Knowledge and beliefs about health promotion and preventive health care among somali women in the United States.
We explored conceptualizations of health promotion and experiences with preventive health services among African refugee women. We asked 34 resettled Somali refugee women about their beliefs and experiences regarding health promotion and common preventive health care services in the United States. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Key themes were the importance of good hygiene, an adequate source of food and water, access to a regular source of health care, spirituality, traditional practices, and functioning well at home. All participants were familiar with the process and rationale for immunizations and routine medical examinations; few understood cancer screening services.
Carroll
Jennifer
J
University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA. Jennifer_Carroll@urmc.rochester.edu
Epstein
Ronald
R
Fiscella
Kevin
K
Volpe
Ellen
E
Diaz
Katherine
K
Omar
Sadiya
S
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D012036:Refugees; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology