Presenting Author

Dolores Garcia

Presentation Type

Poster

Discipline Track

Community/Public Health

Abstract Type

Research/Clinical

Abstract

Background: The UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Core is identifying how South Texas Latino residents navigate cancer-related health needs. Our team explored these from a class and place perspective.

Methods: Listening sessions were conducted across South Texas. Sessions lasted 1.5 hours, were in English and Spanish, and recorded. Recordings were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was completed.

Results: Seventy-four South Texas residents participated in the sessions.

Insurance status and healthcare access were key factors impacting communities’ ability to navigate cancer-related health needs. Analyses were explored from an urban, rural, inland, and border perspective.

Urban

  • For inland participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of inconvenient clinic hours, commute time, and distance to facilities.
  • For border participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of lack of diagnostic/treatment services and making travel arrangements to services in inland cities.
  • A shared perspective was the negative impact of healthcare expensiveness, and insurance not covering full costs of treatment/screenings.

Rural

  • For inland participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of few or no urgent care and hospital facilities and unreliable ambulance services.
  • For border participants, traveling to Mexico for affordable services is common.
  • A shared perspective was insufficient access to primary, specialty, and cancer care.

Conclusion: This study uncovered the nuanced factors associated with the cancer burden for South Texas Latinos. Findings will be used to contextualize how Political Determinants of Health contribute to cancer-related health inequities in South Texas.

Academic/Professional Position

Staff

Academic/Professional Position (Other)

Project Coordinator

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Engaging the South Texas Latino Community: Utilizing Community Member Feedback to Inform Research on Community Engagement

Background: The UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Core is identifying how South Texas Latino residents navigate cancer-related health needs. Our team explored these from a class and place perspective.

Methods: Listening sessions were conducted across South Texas. Sessions lasted 1.5 hours, were in English and Spanish, and recorded. Recordings were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was completed.

Results: Seventy-four South Texas residents participated in the sessions.

Insurance status and healthcare access were key factors impacting communities’ ability to navigate cancer-related health needs. Analyses were explored from an urban, rural, inland, and border perspective.

Urban

  • For inland participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of inconvenient clinic hours, commute time, and distance to facilities.
  • For border participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of lack of diagnostic/treatment services and making travel arrangements to services in inland cities.
  • A shared perspective was the negative impact of healthcare expensiveness, and insurance not covering full costs of treatment/screenings.

Rural

  • For inland participants, access to services was a barrier in the context of few or no urgent care and hospital facilities and unreliable ambulance services.
  • For border participants, traveling to Mexico for affordable services is common.
  • A shared perspective was insufficient access to primary, specialty, and cancer care.

Conclusion: This study uncovered the nuanced factors associated with the cancer burden for South Texas Latinos. Findings will be used to contextualize how Political Determinants of Health contribute to cancer-related health inequities in South Texas.

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