title: Understanding cancer screening service utilization by Somali men in Minnesota.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA, sewal026@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Barrett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sewali
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Ekland
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdiwahab
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahia
authors.forename: Kathleen Thiede
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Call
authors.forename: Kolawole S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Okuyemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012067:Religion; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult