Being Known: A Grounded Theory Study of the Meaning of Quality Maternity Care to People of Color in Boston.

Introduction: Experiences of people of color with maternity care are understudied but understanding them is important to improving quality and reducing racial disparities in birth outcomes in the United States. This qualitative study explored experiences with maternity care among people of color to describe the meaning of quality maternity care to the cohort and, ultimately, to inform the design of a freestanding birth center in Boston.

Methods: Using a grounded theory design and elements of community-based participatory research, community activists developing Boston's first freestanding birth center and academics collaborated on this study.

Trust yet verify: physicians as trusted sources of health information on HPV for black women in socioeconomically marginalized populations.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is highest among Black women and women of low socio economic position (SEP). These groups face inequities in access to health information on HPV.

Objectives: Our study sought to understand key information channels for delivering health information regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine to Black women of low SEP in Boston, Massachusetts.

Addressing cancer disparities via community network mobilization and intersectoral partnerships: a social network analysis.

Community mobilization and collaboration among diverse partners are vital components of the effort to reduce and eliminate cancer disparities in the United States. We studied the development and impact of intersectoral connections among the members of the Massachusetts Community Network for Cancer Education, Research, and Training (MassCONECT). As one of the Community Network Program sites funded by the National Cancer Institute, this infrastructure-building initiative utilized principles of Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) to unite community coalitions, researchers, policymakers, and other important stakeholders to address cancer disparities in three Massachusetts communities: Boston, Lawrence, and Worcester.

Case management intervention in cervical cancer prevention: the Boston REACH coalition women's health demonstration project.

Background: The Boston REACH Coalition developed a case management intervention for Black women in primary care settings to identify and reduce medical and social obstacles to cervical cancer screening and following up abnormal results.

Methods: The 5-year intervention was evaluated among 732 Black women aged 18 to 75 who were at high risk for inadequate Pap smear screening and follow-up. Case managers provided social services referrals to address patient-identified social concerns (e.

Building a regional health equity movement: the grantmaking model of a local health department.

The Boston Public Health Commission's Center for Health Equity and Social Justice provides grant funding, training, and technical assistance to 15 organizations and coalitions across New England to develop, implement, and evaluate community-based policy and systems change strategies that address social determinants of health and reduce racial and ethnic health inequities. This article describes Boston Public Health Commission's health equity framework, theory of change regarding the elimination of racial and ethnic health inequities, and current grantmaking model. To conclude, the authors evaluate the grant model and offer lessons learned from providing multiyear regional grants to promote health equity.

Mammography use among Black women: the role of electronic medical records.

Background And Aims: Accurately documenting mammography use is essential to assess quality of care for early breast cancer detection in underserved populations. Self-reports and medical record reports frequently result in different accounts of whether a mammogram was performed. We hypothesize that electronic medical records (EMRs) provide more accurate documentation of mammography use than paper records, as evidenced by the level of agreement between women's self-reported mammography use and mammography use documented in medical records.

Addressing social determinants of health to improve access to early breast cancer detection: results of the Boston REACH 2010 Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition Women's Health Demonstration Project.

Background: The Boston Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition developed a case management intervention for women of African descent to identify and reduce medical and social obstacles to breast cancer screening and following up abnormal results.

Methods: We targeted black women at high risk for inadequate cancer screening and follow-up as evidenced by a prior pattern of missed clinic appointments and frequent urgent care use. Case managers provided referrals to address patient-identified social concerns (e.