title: Somali asylum seekers' perceptions of privacy in healthcare.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Privacy has been recognized as a basic human right and a part of quality of care. However, little is known about the privacy of Somali asylum seekers in healthcare, even though they are one of the largest asylum seeker groups in the world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to describe the content and importance of privacy and its importance in healthcare from the perspective of Somali asylum seekers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of this explorative qualitative study were collected by four focus group interviews with 18 Somali asylum seekers with the help of an interpreter. The data were analysed by inductive content analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research permissions were obtained from the director of the reception centre and from the Department of Social Services. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Turku University.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of privacy includes visual privacy, physical privacy and informational privacy. All contents can be shared with healthcare professionals. The importance of privacy includes respect, dignity and freedom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Privacy is strongly connected to the collectivism of Somali culture and religion. Unlike the Western cultures, privacy is not important only for the individual; most of all, it is seen to support collectivism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though all contents of privacy can be shared with healthcare professionals, it is important to recognize the cultural aspect of privacy especially when using interpreters with Somali background.
authors: Niina
authors: N
authors: Eklöf
authors: Hibag
authors: H
authors: Abdulkarim
authors: Maija
authors: M
authors: Hupli
authors: University of Turku, Finland.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018907:Privacy / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interpreter; Somali asylum seekers; privacy