Nathaly Herrel, MSc¹, Andrea Leinberger, MPHc², Diana DuBois, MPH/MIA¹, Qamar Ibrahim, MS³, Saeed Fahia, PhD⁴, Khadija Sheikh¹, and Faduma Abdi⁴. (1) Somali Health Care Initiative, Minnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV), 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite #210, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2480, 612 871 3023, nherrel@mihv.org, (2) School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (3) Leadership, Empowerment, and Development Group (LEAD), 1313 5th Street SE, Suite 223B, Minneapolis, MN 55414, (4) Brian Coyle Community Center, Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM), 420 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454

Somali refugees began arriving in the US in the early 1990s as a result of the civil war and collapse of the Somali government. Today, Minnesota is home to the largest population of Somali refugees in the United States. Although Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the nation, health disparities continue to persist within its immigrant and refugee communities. To bridge this gap, Minnesota International Health Volunteers launched the Somali Health Care Initiative in close partnership with two Somali community organizations. Because health data about Somali refugees are so scarce (yet crucial to the development of appropriate public health programs), we implemented a Somali Health Survey using a community-based participatory approach. The focus of our survey was to document health needs, knowledge, and practices through 300 in-person interviews. The survey tool consisted of questions on demographic and socioeconomic factors, health care insurance, health-seeking behavior, diabetes and cardiovascular health, immunizations, breast and cervical cancer, infant health and nutrition. The survey process engaged the Somali community in all phases including: asset-mapping, design, questionnaire testing, survey implementation and dissemination of the survey data. Bi-lingual Somali interviewers were hired and a snowball sampling design was adopted. Somali media channels such as Somali TV and word-of-mouth through Somali Community Health Workers were utilized to publicize the survey. Data were shared back to community members through community forums. This presentation will highlight: (1) the survey process, (2) the survey findings, (3) their implications for public health programs, and (4) lessons learned.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this sessions, participants will be able to

• List at least three steps needed to implement a health survey that includes strong community participation.
• Articulate at least two strategies to share data and findings back to the community.
• Understand the importance of undertaking health research with the full participation of minority populations.

Keywords: Refugees, Data Collection

Related Web page: www.mihv.org/somalihealthintiative.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 1637.0 kb)