An ethnographic study of a community dentistry network serving Latine migrant farmworkers in Vermont: Barriers and access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary dental healthcare services are not accessible for a majority of Latino/a/e migrant farmworkers in the United States. Unmet dental health needs are well documented in larger states like California, Florida and New York, but the dental healthcare picture in smaller states is not well understood. The goal of this qualitative ethnographic study was to understand the delivery model of a free dentistry network serving Latine farmworkers in rural Vermont and specific barriers experienced at the network during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Semi-structured ethnographic interviews were carried out with clinicians and transcripts were analysed using the constant comparison method to identify salient concerns and recommendations about barriers and delivery of care. RESULTS: Clinicians highlighted structural issues including farmworkers' lack of time off work and absence of transportation to attend appointments, concerns about COVID-19 safety, concerns about immigration surveillance and language barriers. Providers outlined steps for improved service delivery including mobile care at local farms, enhanced intercultural training for providers, recognizing dentistry as essential healthcare at the state level and the leverage of existing appointments for preventive health. Drawing on anthropological frameworks of place-based care and deservingness of healthcare, our ethnographic findings emphasize the role of community dentistry in bridging gaps in migrant healthcare during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breast cancer management in middle-resource countries (MRCs): consensus statement from the Breast Health Global Initiative.

In middle resource countries (MRCs), cancer control programs are becoming a priority as the pattern of disease shifts from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in MRCs. The Middle Resource Scenarios Working Group of the BHGI 2010 Global Summit met to identify common issues and obstacles to breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment in MRCs. They concluded that breast cancer early detection programs continue to be important, should include clinical breast examination (CBE) with or without mammography, and should be coupled with active awareness programs. Mammographic screening is usually opportunistic and early detection programs are often hampered by logistical and financial problems, as well as socio-cultural barriers, despite improved public educational efforts. Although multidisciplinary services for treatment are available, geographical and economic limitations to these services can lead to an inequity in health care access. Without adequate health insurance coverage, limited personal finances can be a significant barrier to care for many patients. Despite the improved availability of services (surgery, pathology, radiology and radiotherapy), quality assurance programs remain a challenge. Better access to anticancer drugs is needed to improve outcomes, as are rehabilitation programs for survivors. Focused and sustained government health care financing in MRCs is needed to improve early detection and treatment of breast cancer.