A Culturally Adapted Colorectal Cancer Education Video for the Somali Community in Minnesota: A Pilot Investigation

Purpose This study aims to develop and test feasibility of a colorectal cancer (CRC) education video appropriate for Somali immigrants. Design One-group pretest–posttest design. Setting Minneapolis, MN. Sample Thirty-one Somali men (mean age = 60.6; SD = 13.0). Intervention A CRC education video was developed in the Somali language with Somali community partners. Participants were invited to a workshop and watched the video. Measures Levels of understanding about CRC and screening were assessed before vs after the video. Analysis Binomial tests were conducted to examine changes in level of understanding. Results Analysis on pre–post, within-person changes in understanding about cancer, and CRC screening showed that proportions with a positive change in understanding risks of cancer (80%) and benefits of CRC screening (90%) were significantly higher than expected if the video had no effect (50%; P = .012, P < .001, respectively). Ninety-three percent of participants agreed that the video contained useful information. Conclusion These results provide evidence of usefulness of culturally tailored videos to facilitate CRC screening in the Somali community. Results of this study were limited by a small sample size and lack of a control group.

Somali immigrant women in the Canadian labour market : barriers and consequences

Somali women are experiencing barriers within the Canadian labour market due to islamophobia, racism, and their gendered roles. Like other racialized immigrants, Somali women's position within the labour market is peripheral. In Canada, racialized women experience precarious work, underemployment, unemployment and a noticeable wage gap. To add to these obstacles Somali women face the responsibility for social reproduction and lack in social capital. Somali immigrants and refugees in Canada have not received enough support from the government with regards to integration. Additionally, the labour market challenges and marginalization they experience results in poverty and has serious health consequences. However, Somali women exhibit resiliency and possess survival mechanisms. Inclusivity within the labour market for Somali women requires multi-sector policies and programs that combat inequality based on race, religion and gender. Key Words: Somali women, labour market, racism, islamophobia, social reproduction, social capital, Integration

Somali immigrant women in the Canadian labour market : barriers and consequences

Somali women are experiencing barriers within the Canadian labour market due to islamophobia, racism, and their gendered roles. Like other racialized immigrants, Somali women's position within the labour market is peripheral. In Canada, racialized women experience precarious work, underemployment, unemployment and a noticeable wage gap. To add to these obstacles Somali women face the responsibility for social reproduction and lack in social capital. Somali immigrants and refugees in Canada have not received enough support from the government with regards to integration. Additionally, the labour market challenges and marginalization they experience results in poverty and has serious health consequences. However, Somali women exhibit resiliency and possess survival mechanisms. Inclusivity within the labour market for Somali women requires multi-sector policies and programs that combat inequality based on race, religion and gender. Key Words: Somali women, labour market, racism, islamophobia, social reproduction, social capital, Integration

Measles vaccine coverage among children born to Somali immigrants in Norway

Background Despite overall good vaccination coverage in many countries, vaccine hesitancy has hindered full coverage and exposed groups to the risk of outbreaks. Somali immigrant groups have been known to have low measles vaccination coverage, leading to outbreaks in their communities. Current research indicates a general lack of trust in the healthcare system, the use of alternative information sources and inadequate health literacy can be contributing factors. We explore measles vaccine coverage in children born to Somali parents in Norway, whether it has changed over time and factors that may influence coverage. Methods Data was extracted from the National Population Register on all children born in Norway from 2000 to 2016, where both parents originated from Somalia. Date of birth, gender, residential area at birth and date of immigration and emigration for both parents was linked to information on measles vaccination from the National Immunisation Register. Results We found that children born to Somali immigrants in Norway had suboptimal measles vaccine coverage at 2 years; for children born in 2016 the coverage was 85%. Coverage declined between 2000 and 2016, and at a greater rate for boys than girls. Children born to mothers residing in Norway for 6 years or more had lower coverage compared to those with mothers residing less than 2 years prior to their birth. Children born in the capital and surrounding county had significantly lower coverage than children born elsewhere in Norway. Discussion New targeted interventions are needed to improve measles vaccine coverage among Somali immigrants in Norway. Some possible strategies include using Somali social media platforms, improving communication with Somali parents and tighter cooperation between various countries’ vaccination programmes.

A Qualitative Examination of How Somali Young Adults Think About and Understand Violence in Their Communities

Violence prevention efforts must take into consideration the potentially stigmatizing labels associated with violence, and how youth perceive different types of violence in their communities. Somali communities and individuals in North America have at times been labeled as at-risk for violence, with two notable examples being gang violence and ideologically motivated violence, or violent radicalization. Little is known, however, about how the youth themselves think about and understand these types of violence in their communities. In this article, we seek to answer the following questions: How do Somali immigrants think about violence in their communities, and the stigma related to this violence? and What are the implications of these perceptions/beliefs for violence prevention? Data are drawn from two qualitative studies conducted as part of an ongoing community-based participatory research (CBPR) collaboration between academic partners and Somali communities in three cities in North America. Study 1 consists of nine focus groups ( n = 36, male only), and Study 2 consists of in-depth interviews ( n = 40, male and female). All participants are Somali young adults living in North America. Overall, radicalization to violence is seen as a remote and irrelevant issue in the Somali community. Participants distance themselves from the idea of radicalization to violence and from those who participate in radical acts or held such beliefs. In contrast, gang involvement is characterized as a major problem for Somali communities, and a product of the marginalization associated with being a refugee in Canada or the United States. Findings suggest that prevention efforts focused on gangs are more likely to be acceptable to communities than those focused on violent extremism.