Factors Associated with Access to Maternal and Reproductive Health Care among Somali Refugee Women Resettled in Ohio, United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Kafuli Agbemenu, Crista Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined maternal and reproductive health (MRH) access of Somali refugees in the U.S. across four access dimensions (willingness to seek care, gaining entry to the health system, seeing a primary provider and seeing a specialist). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 427 Somali refugee reproductive-age women in Franklin County, Ohio. Following descriptive statistics of demographics, we conducted multivariate analyses to test associations between demographics and the four access dimensions. Most Somali refugee women were married (68%), attained primary education (92%), employed (64%) and were circumcised (82%). Young (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.25–5.60), single (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.15–2.78), and minors upon arrival (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.44–3.90) were more willing to seek care. Lack of insurance, limited language fluency and being circumcised limited access to care across all dimensions. Barriers to access need to be systematically addressed. Deconstructing beliefs regarding health systems may improve access, especially among older Somali women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)946-953
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2019

Keywords

  • Access
  • Maternal health
  • Refugee
  • Reproductive health
  • Somali

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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