Somali Immigrant Women’s Health Care Experiences and Beliefs Regarding Pregnancy and Birth in the United States
Abstract
Purpose: To describe Somali immigrant women’s health care experiences and beliefs regarding pregnancy and birth. Design: Four focus group interviews were conducted using a convenience sample of Somali women who were pregnant or had recently delivered. Qualitative thematic content analysis was used. Findings: Six major themes emerged: pregnancy as a natural experience for women, value and relevance of prenatal care, lack of control and familiarity with delivery in the United States, balancing the desire to breastfeed with practical concerns and barriers, discomfort with mental health issues, and challenges in the healthcare system. Discussion and Conclusions: Somali immigrant women perceive, interpret, and react to Western health practices from a perspective that includes their cultural, religious, and “scientific” beliefs. Implications for Practice and Research: Implications include cultural competency workshops. Educational materials and prenatal education sessions that support the women’s needs have been developed for this population and should be a focus of future research.
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There are high levels of stigma around addressing mental health in the Somali community.
“There are high levels of stigma around addressing mental health in the Somali community 3 and therefore a lack of culturally options to address such concerns 12 .”
From Addressing Behavioral Health Disparities for Somali Immigrants Through Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Led by Community Health Workers (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
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“Hill 2012 [72] To describe Somali immigrant women’s health care experiences and beliefs regarding pregnancy and birth United States Maternity care Qualitative descriptive 18 mothers Somalia”
Background
- Authors
- Hill, N., Hunt, E., & Hyrkäs, K.
- Affiliations
- Maine Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- Hyrkäs, Kristiina
- Venue
- Journal of Transcultural Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-11-03
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 72-81
- ISSN
- 1043-6596 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7832
- OpenAlex
- W2151906040
- Cited by
- 89
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 13.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Transcultural Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Cultural Competency in Health Care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- pregnancy beliefs, childbirth experience, prenatal care, breastfeeding, maternal mental health, cultural health beliefs, immigrant health care access, cultural competence, prenatal education
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Appointments and Schedules, Female, Humans, Islam, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Maternal Health Services, Maternal Welfare, Pregnancy, Somalia, Tape Recording, Time Factors, United States, Women's Health, Cultural Diversity, Qualitative Research, Emigrants and Immigrants, Cultural Competency
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