Exploring Barriers to Physical Activity for Somali Women in the US

This report investigates the barriers to physical activity among migrant Somali women living in the United States. It begins with an introduction that provides background information on the topic, the rationale for the study, research objectives, and research questions. The methodology section outlines the search strategy used to identify relevant articles, including a description of the critical appraisal process. The results section presents narrative summaries of the findings from four key articles, comparing and contrasting their approaches and outcomes. The conclusion answers the research questions and analyzes the strengths and limitations of the research. The report highlights factors such as lifestyle changes, cultural beliefs, and health outcomes. The report includes references to the articles reviewed and an appendix summarizing the key findings. The report emphasizes the impact of physical inactivity on health outcomes, particularly the increased risk of non-communicable diseases like obesity among Somali women in the US.

What are the Barriers to Physical
Activity among migrant Somali Women
living in the United States?

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of topic....................................................................................................................1
Rationale......................................................................................................................................1
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Research questions.......................................................................................................................1
METHODS AND ANALYSIS........................................................................................................2
Search strategy.............................................................................................................................2
Description of critical appraisal process......................................................................................2
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................3
Narrative summaries....................................................................................................................3
Comparison from studies.............................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
Answer to research questions......................................................................................................6
Analysis of strengths and limitations...........................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Background of topic
Immigration or migration from own country to the other in order to find better job
opportunities and that of livelihood in that developed country is very commonly indicated in
underdeveloped or developing nations. Somalis are migrating the most commonly to USA which
started in year 1920 with arrival of Somalis sailors to USA and then followed by students who
need to pursue their higher studies in late 1960 and early 1970. Somali women who are living in
United States are having higher risk of chronic health conditions which is mainly due to changes
in lifestyle after their migration to USA (Devlin & et.al., 2012). These are caused due to physical
inactiveness which is a primary health challenge estimated to cause 6-10% of major non-
communicable disease. Somali women are witnessing increased rate of obesity caused from
overweight, low fitness as compared to non-migrant and lower cardiorespiratory fitness as well.
So, this topic will be including barriers of physical fitness among Somali women immigrant in
USA with comparison of 4 articles based on this particular topic.
Rationale
This particular review is very much important in terms where it is discussing the barriers
to health and physical fitness among Somali women living in USA. There is increase in cases of
non-communicable diseases like overweight, obesity and leading to heart disease. All the
lifestyle barriers that are leading to including physical activity will be changing health outcomes
to about 40%. This in year 2000 led to death of about 4 million people due to poor diet and
physical inactivity within USA.
Research Objectives
 To gather views of Somali women and experience of their physical activities after
migration to USA
 To identify various determinants of physical activities among Somali women in USA
 To explore all barriers to physical activity among migrants Somali women in USA
Research questions
1. What are the views of Somali women and experience of physical activities after
migration to USA?
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2. What are the determinants of physical activity among Somali women living in USA?
3. What are the barriers to physical activity among migrant Somali women living in United
States
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
Search strategy
For looking into the topic of exploring barriers to physical activities in Somali women in
USA, 4 important articles are taken which are all including various related topics. The article like
“Somali women’s view of physical activity- a focus group study” is including discussion made
on increased risk of non-communicable disease which is compared with ethnic Swedes. Other
article which is “Determinants of Physical Activity among Somali Women Living in Maine”
included lifestyle behaviours like the poor diets and in activities of physical among Somali
women. Then in third article which is including “Physical Activity Programs for Refugee Somali
Women: Working Out in a New Country”, there are majority of refugees who are children and
women who are included within this article (Guerin & et.al., 2003).
Then in last article that is “Knowledge and Beliefs about Health Promotion and
Preventive Health Care among Somali Women in the United States” that focus on health
promotion among the African refugee women asking questions to 34 Somali refugee in US. The
strategy was to use secondary articles and then analysing methods as well as techniques used in
these articles as per the systematic review. This systematic review is chosen to be used in this
assignment due to its importance as it is meant to answer research questions in the way of
collecting and summarising evidence from various secondary sources.
Description of critical appraisal process
At first, identification and meaning of the topic is very much important so that
conclusions are drawn and it is paving path for future research as well. So, firstly topic was
identified with including the barriers for Somali women for their physical activities who are
living in USA (Somali women’s view of physical activity – a focus group study, 2018). Then
relevant articles were chosen so that discussion could be done based on them which are all
relevant and taken from authentic sources. Then afterwards from these 4 articles their methods,
participants, analysis tools, results and limitations are included so that study is made more
2

descriptive. Each of the 4 articles is having own preferred methods and analysis tools which are
enabling researchers to collect their important and relevant information (Persson & et.al., 2014).
In article 1 which is based on view of physical activity on Somali women that is the study
group for this particular research. This study shows immigrants who are especially women and
are having increased risk of non-communicable which is as compared with that from Sweden.
Under this, qualitative methods were included that were having 4 different focus group with
about 26 Somali women that range from 17-67 years of age. In article 2 that is including
determinants of physical activity in Somali women who are living in Maine, there is increased
case of health issues. Under this research, women who were living for more than 10 years or
even longer were included. Interviews of many immigrants Somali women who are living in
Portland are included then their demographic data and self-report which indicate mean and
Standard deviation is calculated. Then in article 3 which focus on refugee of Somalis women
who are working in new country (Carroll & et.al., 2007). So, interview of 37 women in view of
their health and issue related to physical activities will be included in this article.
RESULTS
Narrative summaries
All these articles will be majorly focusing on Somali women and their barriers to physical
health who are living in US but then also, it will be having various differences. These differences
will be based on design, study participants, outcomes and results or findings.
Articles Study
design
Crit
ical
app
rais
al
Group
description/sam
ple size
Interventi
on &
treatment
Outcomes
Measured
Findings
Physical
activity
program
s for
refugee
Somali
Qualit
ative
Study
54 Somali women
over age of 18
years born in
Somali / 30
Physical
activities,
promote
behaviour
al change
Barriers
limiting
Somali
women
from
physical
Religious and cultural
beliefs influence
Somali attitudes
towards physical
activities.
3

women:
working
out in a
new
country
activity
Knowled
ge and
beliefs
about
health
promotio
n and
preventi
ve health
care
among
Somali
women
in the
United
States
Qualit
ative
Study
48 All Female
participants aged
18 to 34 are
taken whose
country of birth
is Somalia and
they are living in
Rochester New
York
Health
experience
s to
improve
health care
including
physical
activities
Barriers
limiting
health care
Cultural beliefs,
traditional health care
network, remedies and
rituals and religion
interfere with health
care.
Determi
nes of
physical
activity
among
Somali
women
living in
Maine
Qualit
ative
Study
54 In this article
Somali women
of age 17-65 are
divided into 3
groups which
are:
•community
centre exercise
classes,
•gym
Maintainin
g or
obtaining
levels of
physical
activity
contribute
s to good
health
Barriers to
fitness and
exercise,
social,
physical
and cultural
effects of
physical
activities
Physical and general
health, attendance and
enjoyment of sessions,
cultural and religious
issues as well as safety
and discrimination
issues
4

memberships,
and
 •walking
and sport
group
Somali
women’s
view of
physical
activity-
focus
group
study
Qualit
ative
Study
48 In this article 48
Somali women
are divided into
4 groups each
having 26
respondents age
ranging from
17-67 years old/
104
Explore
Somali
women’s
views and
experience
of physical
activities
Understand
ing and
enhancing
health and
facilitators
and barriers
to physical
activity
Some findings are like
health is gift from god,
making life more
difficult, managing
housework and health
is very difficult with
lack of knowledge
So this above table includes number of participants, design of study and outcomes or
findings that are generated form all these 4 articles. Thus, this concludes that there are some
physical barriers to Somali women who are migrants living in USA.
Comparison from studies
Comparison Somali
women’s
view of
physical
activity-
focus group
study
Determines of
physical activity
among Somali
women living in
Maine
Knowledge and
beliefs about
health promotion
and preventive
health care
among Somali
women in the
United States
Physical activity
programs for
refugee Somali
women: working
out in a new
country
Similarities Focusing on
Somali
women and
Focusing on
Somali women
and their physical
Focusing on
Somali women
and their physical
Focusing on
Somali women
and their physical
5

their physical
activities
activities activities activities
Difference 48 participants
are taken
54 respondents are
included
48 Somali women 54 Somali
women above 18
years of age
Gaps Language and
cultural
barriers are
the limitations
of this
research.
The size of sample
is not enough
which is based on
self-reported and
cross sectional
data.
The respondents
who are included
in this research
with whom
researchers are not
having any direct
patient contact.
The number of
participants
included was not
enough for this
research.
CONCLUSION
Answer to research questions
All the questions which were included in starting section of report are answered but then
also, there are certain gaps and limitations based on research conducted. There were number of
factors which are identified which are leading to barriers in physical activities including obesity
and overweight of Somali women living in USA.
Analysis of strengths and limitations
The size of sample in each of research is limited only so study which would be conducted
in future should be wider so that results are more accurate. While, the strength will be use of
correct data and respondents as they are having correct knowledge about barriers which Somali
women are facing.
6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Carroll, J., & et.al., (2007). Knowledge and beliefs about health promotion and preventive health
care among Somali women in the United States. Health care for women
international. 28(4). 360-380.
Devlin, J. T., & et.al., (2012). Determinants of physical activity among Somali women living in
Maine. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 14(2). 300-306.
Guerin, P. B., & et.al., (2003). Physical activity programs for refugee Somali women: Working
out in a new country. Women & Health. 38(1). 83-99.
Persson, G., & et.al., (2014). Somali women’s view of physical activity–a focus group study.
BMC women's health. 14(1). 129.
Online
Somali women’s view of physical activity – a focus group study. 2018. [Online]. Available
through: <Somaliwomenfocusgroups1534821780_1534822652.pdf>.
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APPENDIX
Authors Stud
y
desig
n
Criti
cal
appr
aisal
Group
description/samp
le size
Interventi
on &
treatment
Amount
of
therapy
Outcom
es
Measure
d
Findings
Devlin 2012
Physical
activity
programs for
refugee
Somali
women:
working out
in a new
country
Quali
tative
Study
54 Somali women
over age of 18,
born in Somali /
30
Physical
activities,
promote
behavioura
l change
60
minutes
Barriers
limiting
Somali
women
from
physical
activity
Religious
and
cultural
beliefs
influence
Somali
attitudes
towards
physical
activities.
Carroll 2007.
Knowledge
and beliefs
about health
promotion
and
preventive
health care
among
Somali
women in the
United States
Quali
tative
Study
48 Female, country
of birth Somalia,
living in
Rochester new
york, over 18/ 34
Health
experience
s to
improve
health care
including
physical
activities
45-60
minutes
Barriers
limiting
health
care
Cultural
beliefs,
traditional
health care
network,
remedies
and rituals
and
religion
interferes
with health
care
Guerin 2003.
Determines of
physical
activity
Quali
tative
Study
54 In this article
Somali women of
age 17-65 are
divided into 3
Maintainin
g or
obtaining
levels of
2.5 hours
in 7 days
Barriers
to fitness
and
exercise,
Physical
and
general
health,
8

among somali
women living
in maine.
groups which are:
•community
centre exercise
classes,
•gym
memberships, and
•walking and
sport group
physical
activity
contributes
to good
health
social,
physical
and
cultural
effects of
physical
activities.
attendance
and
enjoyment
of
sessions,
cultural
and
religious
issues as
well as
safety and
discriminat
ion issues.
Perrson 2014.
Somali
women’s
view of
physical
activity- focas
group study
Quali
tative
Study
48 4 groups each
group 26 Somali
women age
ranging from 17-
67 years old/ 104
Explore
Somali
women’s
views and
experience
of physical
activities
75- 90
minutes
Understa
nding
and
enhancin
g health
and
facilitato
rs as well
as
barriers
to
physical
activity
Health is
gift from
god,
making
life more
difficult,
managing
housework
health and
family is
difficult,
lack of
knowledge
.
9