title: Diabetes Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors Among Somali and Latino Immigrants.
abstract: Persons from Somalia constitute the largest group of immigrants and refugees from Africa among whom diabetes-related health disparities are well documented. As one of the first steps toward developing a behavioral intervention to address diabetes among Somali immigrants and refugees, we administered a face to face interview-based survey to Somali and Latino adults with diabetes in a single community to assess diabetes knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Respondents (N = 78) reported several barriers to optimal diabetes management for physical activity and glucose self-monitoring, as well as a high burden of disease and negative perceptions of diabetes. High participant engagement in disease management, self-efficacy, and social support were important assets. Similarities suggest that the shared experiences of immigration and related systemic socioeconomic and linguistic factors play a significant role in the understanding and self-management of diabetes in these populations. Together with previously collected qualitative work, the survey findings will inform development of a behavioral intervention to improve outcomes and reduce diabetes-related health disparities among immigrant and refugee groups to the U.S.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. njeru.jane@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Njeru
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Formea
authors.affiliation: Somali Community Resettlement Services, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Alliance of Chicanos Hispanics and Latin Americans, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.affiliation: Somali Community Resettlement Services, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hared
authors.affiliation: Department of Language Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Graciela Porraz
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Capetillo
authors.affiliation: Hawthorne Education Center, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nigon
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Marcelo M K
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Irene G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Sia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wieland
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000073278:Self-Management; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Community based participatory research; Diabetes; Immigrant health; Somali