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Understanding Cancer Screening Service Utilization by Somali Men in Minnesota

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Abstract

This study examined factors that influence use of cancer screening by Somali men residing in Minnesota, USA. To better understand why recent immigrants are disproportionately less likely to use screening services, we used the health belief model to explore knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes surrounding cancer screening. We conducted a qualitative study comprised of 20 key informant interviews with Somali community leaders and 8 focus groups with Somali men (n = 44). Somali men commonly believe they are protected from cancer by religious beliefs. This belief, along with a lack of knowledge about screening, increased the likelihood to refrain from screening. Identifying the association between religion and health behaviors may lead to more targeted interventions to address existing disparities in cancer screening in the growing US immigrant population.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for the lead author (BS) was provided by a Grant from the National Cancer Institute (Cancer-related Health Disparities Education and Career Development Program—R25T); Grant # [R25 CA163184-01]. We would also acknowledge the Somali male participants for volunteering to participate in this study. We would like to thank the staff members of the Confederation of the Somali Community who aided in the recruitment and moderating the interviews.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA

    Barrett Sewali, Rebekah Pratt, Ekland Abdiwahab & Kolawole S. Okuyemi

  2. Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Barrett Sewali, Ekland Abdiwahab, Kathleen Thiede Call & Kolawole S. Okuyemi

  3. Center for Health Equity, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Kathleen Thiede Call & Kolawole S. Okuyemi

  4. Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Kolawole S. Okuyemi

  5. Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Kathleen Thiede Call

  6. Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Saeed Fahia

Authors
  1. Barrett Sewali
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  2. Rebekah Pratt
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  3. Ekland Abdiwahab
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  4. Saeed Fahia
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  5. Kathleen Thiede Call
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  6. Kolawole S. Okuyemi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barrett Sewali.

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Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov.

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Sewali, B., Pratt, R., Abdiwahab, E. et al. Understanding Cancer Screening Service Utilization by Somali Men in Minnesota. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 773–780 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0032-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0032-9

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