title: Understanding the health beliefs and practices of East African refugees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore East African refugees' perceptions, ideas, and beliefs about health and health care, as well as the ways in which health information is shared within their communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study consisted of 2 focus groups with a total of 15 participants,  including East African community leaders and health professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  East African refugees in the United States have strong cultural, religious, and traditional health practices that shape their health behavior and influence their interactions with Western health care systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care providers who understand refugees' beliefs about health may achieve more compliance with refugee patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Social Work, St. Paul, MN, USA. simm0055@umn.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simmelink
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
authors.forename: Amano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blevins
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lum
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014481:United States