Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 773-780

Understanding Cancer Screening Service Utilization by Somali Men in Minnesota (Article)

Sewali B.* , Pratt R. , Abdiwahab E. , Fahia S. , Call K.T. , Okuyemi K.S.
  • a Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • b Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • c Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • e Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Center for Health Equity, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • f Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Center for Health Equity, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

This study examined factors that influence use of cancer screening by Somali men residing in Minnesota, USA. To better understand why recent immigrants are disproportionately less likely to use screening services, we used the health belief model to explore knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes surrounding cancer screening. We conducted a qualitative study comprised of 20 key informant interviews with Somali community leaders and 8 focus groups with Somali men (n = 44). Somali men commonly believe they are protected from cancer by religious beliefs. This belief, along with a lack of knowledge about screening, increased the likelihood to refrain from screening. Identifying the association between religion and health behaviors may lead to more targeted interventions to address existing disparities in cancer screening in the growing US immigrant population. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York (Outside the USA).

Author Keywords

Screening cancer Health belief model Somali men qualitative

Index Keywords

Neoplasms human epidemiology middle aged early cancer diagnosis Minnesota ethnology Early Detection of Cancer religion Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult Somalia attitude to health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84930084243&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0032-9&partnerID=40&md5=7ec31bd9dc26c50ec241b1d3d75d4bf3
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0032-9
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English