Abstract
This study explores the general knowledge of Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) among Somali men in the U.S., who are major decision-makers in Somali households. HPV infects both men and women, and causes genital warts and cervical cancer (CC). High mortality from CC persists among minorities due to low uptake of preventive tools. Eleven questions assessed general knowledge of HPV and CCS among 30 Somali male respondents. The knowledge of HPV and CCS by education level, age, and years lived in the U.S., was assessed using the health belief model. Most respondents had no knowledge of HPV vaccine and CCS, and low perceived susceptibility to HPV infection. There is need for more research on Somali men’s attitude to HPV vaccine and CCS uptake among Somali adolescents and women.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Parkin DM, Pisani P, Ferlay J. Estimates of the worldwide incidence of 18 major cancers in 1985. Int J Cancer. 1993;54:594–606.
WHO: Estimated cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide in 2012. Retrieved from http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx.
Bosch FX. Prevalence of Human Papilloma virus in cervical cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995;87(11):796–802.
National Cancer Institute: HPV and cancer 2012. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-fact-sheet.
CDC: Gynecologic cancers—cervical cancer screening guidelines 2015. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm.
CDC: Gynecologic cancers—fighting cervical cancer worldwide 2015. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/what_cdc_is_doing/cc_worldwide.htm.
American Cancer Society: What are the key statistics about cervical cancer 2014. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-key-statistics.
American Cancer Society: New screening guidelines for cervical cancer 2012. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/new-screening-guidelines-for-cervical-cancer.
CDC: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) ACIP vaccine recommendations. MMWR. 2014;63(37):822–5.
National Cancer Institute: Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines 2011. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet.
CDC: HPV vaccines—vaccinating your preteen or teen 2015. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html.
USPSTF: Screening for cervical cancer: Recommendations and rationale. Am J Nurs. 2003;103(11):101–09.
Morrison BT, et al. Cervical cancer screening adherence among Somali immigrants and refugees to the United States. Health Care Women Int. 2013;34(11):980–88.
Pruitt CN, et al. Completion of the human Papillomavirus vaccination series lags in Somali adolescents. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013;17(3):280–88.
Abdullahi A, et al. Cervical screening: perceptions and barriers to uptake among Somali women in Camden. Public Health. 2009;123(10):680–85.
Sambamoorthi U, McAlpine DD. Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and access disparities in the use of preventive services among women. Prev Med. 2003;37(5):475–84.
Carroll J, et al. Caring for Somali women: implications for clinician-patient communication. Patient Educ Couns. 2007;66(3):337–45.
Carroll J, et al. Knowledge and beliefs about health promotion and preventive health care among Somali women in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health. 2012;14(6):968–74.
Minnesota Historical Society: Becoming Minnesotan: Stories of recent immigrants and refugees. 2010. Retrieved from http://education.mnhs.org/immigration/communities/somali.
U.S. Census Bureau: Quick facts—Rochester city, Minnesota; 2010. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/2754880.html.
Maxamuud Y. Somali Women: Agents of change the untapped pedigree of Somali women’s political participation, Juba, Somali; 2011. Retrieved from http://wardheernews.com/Articles_2011/Nov/Somali%20Women_agents_change_yasmeen.pdf.
Carpenter CJ. A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting behavior. Health Commun. 2010;25(8):661–69.
Glanz K, Rimer BK, Lewis FM. Health behavior and health education: theory, research, and practice. San Francisco: Wiley; 2002.
Sewali B, et al. Cervical cancer screening with clinic-based Pap test versus home HPV test among Somali immigrant women in Minnesota. Cancer Med. 2015;4(4):620–31.
Pruitt CN, et al. Completion of the Human Papilloma vaccination series lags in Somali adolescents. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013;17(3):280–8.
Maayan-Metzger A, et al. Parents who refuse to vaccinate their infants, pediatricians’ feelings and treatment intentions. Acta Paediatr. 2013;102(12):1186–91.
Chen MF, et al. Using the health belief model to understand caregiver factors influencing childhood Influenza vaccinations. J Community Health Nurs. 2011;8(1):29–40.
Trim K, Nagji N, Elit L, Roy K. Parental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for their children: a systematic review from 2001 to 2011. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2012;2012:921236.
Padilla-Raygoza N. Cancer and chronic diseases in minority populations: the need for more educational materials in Spanish for healthcare providers. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011;13:1180–82.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abakporo, U., Hussein, A., Begun, J.W. et al. Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes of Somali Men in Olmsted County, Minnesota, U.S., on the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screening: January 17, 2015. J Immigrant Minority Health 20, 1230–1235 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0642-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0642-0