title: Sexual Health Care, Sexual Behaviors and Functioning, and Female Genital Cutting: Perspectives From Somali Women Living in the United States.
abstract: We investigated the sexual values, attitudes, and behaviors of 30 Somali female refugees living in a large metropolitan area of Minnesota by collecting exploratory sexual health information based on the components of the sexual health model-components posited to be essential aspects of healthy human sexuality. A Somali-born bilingual interviewer conducted the semistructured interviews in English or Somali; 22 participants chose to be interviewed in Somali. Interviews were translated, transcribed, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analyses. Our study findings highlighted a sexually conservative culture that values sexual intimacy, female and male sexual pleasure, and privacy in marriage; vaginal sexual intercourse as the only sanctioned sexual behavior; and the importance of Islamic religion in guiding sexual practices. Findings related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) revealed HIV testing at immigration, mixed attitudes toward condom use, and moderate knowledge about HIV transmission modes. Female genital cutting (FGC) was a pervasive factor affecting sexual functioning in Somali women, with attitudes about the controversial practice in transition. We recommend that health professionals take the initiative to discuss sexual health care and safer sex, sexual behaviors/functioning, and likely challenges to sexual health with Somali women--as they may be unlikely to broach these subjects without permission and considerable encouragement.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Community Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy , St. Cloud State University.
authors.forename: Jennifer Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: b Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: Shanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: c Psychology Department , Stony Brook University.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finsaas
authors.affiliation: d Department of Kinesiology and Health Science , Concordia University.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciesinski
authors.affiliation: e Midwest Community Development, Inc.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: f Program in Human Sexuality, Department of Family Medicine , University of Minnesota Medical School.
authors.forename: Beatrice Bean E
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult