Aims and objectives: To explore Somali Bantu refugee women's reproductive health decision-making, as influenced by their resettlement in the USA. Background: Available literature on reproductive health of refugee women is mostly from the healthcare provider perspective, neglecting the lived experience of the population. Design: Qualitative descriptive. Methods: A purposive sample of 30 women was recruited for five focus groups. Data were collected via demographic survey and semi-structured focus group discussion. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Our study revealed that Somali Bantu women considered children as wealth. Reproductive health decision-making was influenced by three main factors: family influence, cultural/religious ideas and experience with various hormonal birth control methods. Conclusions: Nurses and other healthcare providers would better serve refugee women if equipped with a more nuanced understanding of factors in their reproductive healthcare decision-making. This study can inform tailored and cultural relevant interventions to improve reproductive health among those at greatest need. Relevance to clinical practice: Our findings can serve to guide nurses and other healthcare providers' clinical approach to a subset of the population whose cultural beliefs and practices regarding reproductive health may be unfamiliar. Incorporating the perspective of the Somali Bantu women will facilitate the provision of person-centred care and ensure women receive appropriate, efficient and quality care that meets their needs, which may potentially reduce financial costs to the healthcare system. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Refugee health motherhood Contraception reproductive outcomes African immigrants Birth control

information processing immigrant refugee nurse human Refugees middle aged controlled study clinical practice ethnology procedures qualitative research health personnel attitude Attitude of Health Personnel United States Young Adult Humans human tissue psychology female purposive sample Contraception Mothers clinical article Article mother adult human experiment content analysis Somalia Reproductive Health Culturally Competent Care transcultural care medical decision making health care system decision making Focus Groups Child