Healthcare and the Somali Culture

1. Healthcare and the Somali Culture By: Lisa Harter & Mikyla Strand

2. Overview • Background • Community Partner • Somali Elders Council (SEC) • Services Offered • Brochure Information • Cultural competence • Gender sensitivity • Tips of culture competent care

3. Background • In 1990, Minnesota had fewer than 5,000 residents that were born in Africa(Immigration in Minnesota-discovering common ground, 2004). • As of today, Minnesota has the largest number of Somalis in the U.S., an estimated 50,000 (Stratishealth, 2010)

4. Community Partner • Alikhadar Yusuf is a Somali Elders Council member. • He has been with the organization for 6 months. • He has been in the United States for about 9 years. • He graduated from St. Cloud State with his bachelor's degree and is currently working on his Masters. • He hopes to someday get his PhD and become a politician. • Ali sets up the training and community outreach meetings with local organizations.

5. Somali Elders Council (SEC) • Provides a first learning experience for newly arrived immigrants and refugees who do not have language and living skills necessary to thrive in the community. • Help develop skills in: • Conflict resolution • Leadership • Advocacy • Training • Community organization

6. Somali Elders Council (SEC) • They offer an array of services to help immigrants and refugees acclimate to their new community. • Also to help the Somali immigrant and refugees to achieve a greater level of independence.

7. Services offered • English language classes • Basic computer skills • Mathematics • Citizenship and civic test preparation • Social services • Financial assistance and health services • School enrollment • Educational opportunities for adults

8. Services offered cont • Domestic abuse training • Integration into society after incarceration • Conflict resolution training • Community relations trainings • Volunteer services

9. Cultural Competence • In the medical field, healthcare providers should make it a point to be familiar with the culture of their patients. • May expect someone with a different belief to conform to our way of doing things. • Having an interpreter on hand to handle any miscommunications. • Getting to know the Somali culture can: • Make patients with these beliefs feel comfortable. • Make them feel thought of in the healthcare process.

10. Gender Sensitivity • In the Islamic religion, having physical contact with someone of the opposite sex that is not your marriage mate is not acceptable. • A female patient would want to see a female doctor. • A male patient would want to see a male doctor. • Few exceptions: • Extreme circumstances • Emergency • Only one doctor in that specialty

11. Tips for culture competent care • When asking a Somali patient about their symptoms, they may say that it hurts all over. • Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are common among Somali refugees. • Immunizations are required to receive their green card. • Explain the importance of immunizations.

12. Tips Continued • Provide information on why well-child check ups are important. • Express the importance of being active and maintaining nutrition. • Changes in medication schedules during Ramadan may be needed since during this time Somali’s may be fasting.

13. Works Cited Immigration in Minnesota-discovering common ground. (2004). Africa- Focus on Somalis. Retrieved 1/27/10 from www.minneapolisfoundation.org/immigration/africa.htm. Stratishealth.(2010). Somalis in Minnesota. Retrieved 1/27/10 from www.culturecareconnection.org/matters/diversity/soamli