Chinese Lay Health Project

Author(s): Pauline Ginnety
Document Type: Report
Year: 1998
Publisher: Barnardos & Chinese Welfare Association
Place of Publication: Belfast
Subject Area(s): Ethnicity, Health, Community, Culture/Identity, Equality Issues
Client Group(s) : Minority Ethnic Groups

Abbreviations: CWA - Chinese Welfare Association, HPSS - Health and Personal Social Services

Background to the Research

  • The Chinese Lay Health Project is the only health project in Northern Ireland which focuses on minority ethnic health issues.
  • In 1998, CWA alongside Barnardos carried out an evaluation of the project from the point of view of users and clients, non-users, project workers and management, as well as workers in other sectors who came into contact with the project.

Research Approach

  • Informal interviews were carried out with a range of respondents from the 6 category indicated above (n = 57).

Main Findings

  • Clients/users expressed a high level of satisfaction with the Project, repeated requests from more Lay Health Worker time or more Workers is a good indication that the work and approach of the Project is acceptable to the community.
  • Many individuals needing support have been self-referred.
  • There was a very clear view among professionals that the Lay Health Workers worked hard and effectively with them on their clients' behalf.
  • A third of non-users had heard of the Project, virtually all non-users were interested in the Project and thought it would be useful to them or their families.
  • Shared language and a mutual understanding of the cultural context of the clients' lives were seem as important features of the Projects' acceptability and accessibility to the Chinese and Vietnamese communities.
  • Responses by users as to why other women in the community might not use the Project included lack of time because of work, the pressures of child-care, uncertainty about the Project, fear of loss of privacy and lack of awareness of the Project.
  • A high level of isolation was described by many non-users, many of whom lived outside the current remit of the Lay Health Workers.
  • Several professionals commented on the flexibility of the Lay Health Workers' response to felt need. Health and social workers were equally as explicit about the way the Lay Health Workers enhanced the quality of their work with members of the community.
  • Management within HPSS felt that the Project acted as a catalyst for change; one stated it had helped her Board to commence a process of responding in policy terms to the needs of minority ethnic groups.
  • A series of connections between CWA and the Project exist, and communication was frequent and effective.

 

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