BMC Public Health
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2014

Culturally informed views on cancer screening: A qualitative research study of the differences between older and younger Somali immigrant women (Article) (Open Access)

Raymond N.C.* , Osman W. , O'Brien J.M. , Ali N. , Kia F. , Mohamed F. , Mohamed A. , Goldade K.B. , Pratt R. , Okuyemi K.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • b New American Community Services, St. Paul, MN, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • e University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • f New American Community Services, St. Paul, MN, United States
  • g New American Community Services, St. Paul, MN, United States
  • h Independent Research Consultant, St. Paul, MN, United States
  • i Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • j Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

Background: Somali women are infrequently screened for breast or cervical cancer, and there is a paucity of evidence-based interventions to increase cancer screening in this community. In order to create a culturally relevant intervention for Somali women living in Minnesota, we sought to understand what Somali immigrant women know about breast and cervical cancer, what are the attitudes toward screening and what cultural barriers are there to screen as well as cultural factors that would facilitate screening. Methods: In partnership with a community-based organization, New American Community Services (NACS), focus groups were conducted to explore the issues described above. Two focus groups were held with younger women age 20 to 35 and two were held with women age 36 to 65. Results: Twenty-nine women participated in the four focus groups. The women identified 1) differences in health care seeking behavior in Somalia verses the United States; 2) cultural understanding of cancer and disease; 3) barriers to mammogram or Pap screening; 4) facilitators to seeking preventive cancer screening; and 5) risk factors for developing cancer. Conclusions: Cultural misperceptions and attitudes need to be addressed in developing culturally-appropriate interventions to improve screening uptake for Somali women. A nuanced response is required to address barriers specific to younger and older groups. Culturally informed beliefs can be integrated into intervention development, preventive care and screening promotion. © 2014 Raymond et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

Barriers to screening Immigrant health Breast and cervical cancer screening Somali

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928800887&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-14-1188&partnerID=40&md5=7f9c5b33c5eb63de67e78ad254016ab0
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1188
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English