Health education for Somali Bantu refugees via home visits

Abstract

Background: Somali Bantu refugees, with unique health information needs, created challenges for health and social service providers. Objectives: A service innovation was developed (i) to raise awareness, especially among local health and social service providers, about the Bantu refugees' presence in the community, their culture, and their information needs and (ii) to deliver needed health information, emphasizing child health, to the Bantu mothers in their homes. Methods: The project consisted of: (i) a community conference targeting local health and social service providers, describing the refugees' presence in the community, their culture, and information needs.(ii) Focus groups conducted with members of the Bantu population elicited additional information needs. (iii) Curriculum was developed based on identified needs, and (iv) the curriculum was delivered to the refugees in their homes. A clinical informationist and MP3 technology enhanced the project. Findings: Conference attendees' evaluation responses indicated improved understanding of Bantu culture. Focus groups' identification of health information needs provided a framework for the health education curriculum. A project website made educational materials available to other healthcare providers. Conclusions: The project raised awareness of the Bantus' presence, culture, and information needs. Identification of other unmet needs demonstrated that additional support for refugees is required.

“We would never forget who we are”: resettlement, cultural negotiation, and family relationships among Somali Bantu refugees

“…However, Somali Bantu parents were often unaware of the stressors children faced at school, either because of language difficulties or children intentionally not telling their parents about issues around discrimination. Reports of cultural discrimination and harassment have been identified in several other studies with Somali and Somali Bantu youth [33, 40, 49, 50]. …”

“…Since their arrival, there has been limited research on Somali Bantus in the US. A few studies have focused on resettlement experiences and community needs [31, 32] and topics such as health education [33] and adjustment to the US health care system [34]. Some research has focused on Somali Bantu youth [35, 36] or mental health in general [37], but there is little research on mental health within Somali Bantu families.…”

Health Literacy Among Migrants in the EU: A Collection of Best Available Interventions and Indirect Measures

“…Moreover, all used an experimental study design. The study participants were recruited from the following settings: community partnerships [10], through local radio and television stations [9], community nurse [7], via English-asa-second-language classrooms [8], and social and welfare clubs [11]. All but two studies [8,9], which both added health information to language courses, used different types of interventions such as: 1) workshops wherein health information was presented to the participants, with the use of activities such as lectures, role-play exercises, demonstrations, drama, group presentations and group discussions [10], 2) a community conference wherein awareness was raised, mainly among the local health care providers, about the Somali Bantu refugees' presence in the American community, their culture and their information needs, with additional education for Somali Bantu refugee mothers about necessary health information through welcome packages [7], and 3) an online depression information intervention, consisting of multilingual information about depression [11].…”

“…Two other studies measured improved health literacy outcomes indirectly, through participatory observation, in-depth individual interviews [10] and surveys [8]. One study did not measure health literacy at all [7]. All studies except one [7] achieved improved levels of health literacy with their interventions among migrants.…”

Health, sport and nutritional information: tailoring your approach

“…The subjects examined above are echoed in the manuscripts published in this quarter’s issue of the Health Information and Libraries Journal. These include the importance of location in the provision of health information for specific sectors of ‘the general public’ 10 and the benefits of tailoring health information for its intended audience 11 . Health library and information services designed with their users in mind are considered in a scoping review of web 2.0 services, 12 within the public health sector 13 and in a survey of the accessibility of key resources 14 including those within orthopaedics 15 .…”