Measuring Health Literacy Among Somali Men Over the Age of 45 - A Pilot Study

Klutse, Vasty

doi:10.15385/tmsn.2014.4

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“… 27 These findings may be attributed to the lack of formal education among study participants and the reality that Somalia has some of the lowest health and health literacy indicators in the world, which stem from decades of conflict, civil strife and limited access to healthcare and education, particularly for displaced populations like IDPs. 38–41 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, prevalence of pre-existing conditions and access to essential resources in Somali IDP camps: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2021

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ObjectivesThis study examined knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, prevalence of pre-existing conditions and access to essential resources among residents of internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Somalia, where overcrowded settlements with weakened infrastructure, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, and limited access to health services make this vulnerable population particularly susceptible to a COVID-19 outbreak.DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional survey.SettingTwelve IDP camps across six areas of the Lower Shabelle region in Somalia.Participants401 adult Somali IDP camp residents.ResultsThe majority of participants were female (86%) and had received no formal education (89%). While 58% reported being in ‘good’ health, half of the participants reported having one or more pre-existing conditions. Though 77% of respondents reported taking at least one COVID-19 preventative public health measure, respondents reported a lack of access to adequate sanitation, an inability to practice social distancing and nearly universal inability to receive a COVID-19 screening exam. Questions assessing knowledge surrounding COVID-19 prevention and treatment yielded answers of ‘I don’t know’ for roughly 50% of responses. The majority of participants were not familiar with basic information about the virus or confident that they could receive medical services if infected. 185 (47%) respondents indicated that camp living conditions needed to change to prevent the spread of COVID-19.ConclusionThis study highlights low levels of COVID-19 knowledge and limited access to essential prevention and treatment resources among individuals living in Somali IDP camps. A massive influx of additional resources is required to adequately address COVID-19 in Somalia, starting with codesigning interventions to educate those individuals most vulnerable to infection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, prevalence of pre-existing conditions and access to essential resources in Somali IDP camps: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2021

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“…And, although related literature in humanitarian settings is severely limited, this discrepancy persists among the sparse COVID-related published research in camp-like settings, such as that of a study conducted in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh[27]. These findings may also be attributed to the lack of formal education (88.7%) among study participants, as well as the reality that Somalia has some of the lowest health indicators in the world and low levels of health literacy stemming from decades of conflict, civil strife, and limited access to healthcare and education – particularly for displaced populations like IDPs[38–41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19, Prevalence of Pre-Existing Conditions, and Access to Essential Resources and Health Services in Somali IDP Camps

Alawa

Al‐Ali

Walz

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Three million internally displaced Somalis live in overcrowded settlements with weakened infrastructure, insufficient access to WASH facilities, and inaccessible health services. This vulnerable population is especially susceptible to COVID-19, which is expected to have worsened health outcomes and exacerbate existing structural challenges in the implementation of public health measures. This study examines knowledge of COVID-19, self-reported prevalence of preexisting conditions, and access to essential health services among residents of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Somalia. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design assessing demographics, current health profiles, knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, and access to resources was used. 401 Somali IDP camp residents completed the survey. Results: Though 77% of respondents reported taking at least one COVID-19 preventative public health measure, respondents reported a severe lack of access to adequate sanitation, an inability to practice social distancing, and nearly universal inability to receive a COVID-19 screening exam. Questions assessing knowledge surrounding COVID-19 prevention and treatment yielded answers of "I don't know" for roughly 50% of responses. The majority were not familiar with basic information about the virus or confident that they could receive medical services if infected. Those who perceived their health status to be "fair," as opposed to "good," showed 5.69 times higher odds of being concerned about contracting COVID-19. Respondents who felt more anxious or nervous and those who introduced one behavioral change to protect against COVID-19 transmission showed 10.16 and 5.20 times increased odds of being concerned about disease contraction, respectively. Conclusion: This study highlights immense gaps in the knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 and access to treatment and preventative services among individuals living in Somali IDP camps. A massive influx of additional resources is required to adequately address COVID-19 in Somalia, starting with educating those individuals most vulnerable to infection.

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Measuring Health Literacy Among Somali Men Over the Age of 45 - A Pilot Study

Cited by 2 publications

References 23 publications

Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, prevalence of pre-existing conditions and access to essential resources in Somali IDP camps: a cross-sectional study

Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, prevalence of pre-existing conditions and access to essential resources in Somali IDP camps: a cross-sectional study

Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19, Prevalence of Pre-Existing Conditions, and Access to Essential Resources and Health Services in Somali IDP Camps

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