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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ellyn R. Mulcahy, PhD¹, Carla Buchheit², Elyse Max², Bruno Finocchario², Suzanne R. Hawley, PhD, MPH³, and Aimee S. James, PhD, MPH, MA¹. (1) Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, 913 262 1002, emulcahy@kumc.edu, (2) Jewish Vocational Service, 1608 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108, (3) Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 N. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214-3199

Somali Bantu refugees represent a significant public health concern in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, with approximately 350 refugees living in the bi-state region. The aim of this study was to identify the health needs of the Somali Bantu population in the Kansas City metro area, to develop and implement educational methods to promote health awareness, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods. A culturally sensitive pilot educational program was established by an area refugee resettlement agency to provide Somali Bantu refugee women with practical life skills in order to promote health and well being in the Somali Bantu population. As part of the program, the study addressed specific health issues including the role of nutrition and the importance of prenatal healthcare for health and development of the family. Each health issue and life skill was presented to the Somali Bantu refugee women in a small group session with familiar group leaders guiding the discussion or participating with an invited speaker (n=15). Use of a familiar Somali interpreter and culturally sensitive group leaders were used to ensure that the educational information was well understood and to enhance the participants' willingness to actively participate in the sessions and evaluations. The sessions were followed up with individual interviews with the participants to evaluate the success of the educational program. Recommendations for program development will be provided based on feedback received from the individual interviews. Implications for facilitating the design and implementation of public health interventions with refugee populations will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe strategies that can be used to encourage participation of refugees in a small group educational session.
• Recognize and explain how individual interviews can be utilized for program evaluation of a community-based educational intervention.

Keywords: Refugees, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered