Physical Health: 

Profile 

Somalis are newcomers to Canada.  They have suffered hardships in their homeland and have arrived in Canada with few, if any, resources.  As a result, their general health tends to be poor.  In addition, they have problems associated with inadequate household hygiene due to the overcrowded conditions in which they live. 

Dental problems are evident in all segments of the population.  Most Somali children need immunization.  Intestinal parasitic diseases are rampant among the young.  Children frequently have difficulty adapting to the climate, different foods and eating habits in Canada. 

Many men have physical disabilities as a result of brutal treatment by the Somali regime.  They exhibit post-traumatic stress syndrome.  Gastrointestinal disorders are common, as is tuberculosis among young adult men. 

The most notable health problems of Somali women are gynaecological and obstetrical problems due to female circumcision, and post-traumatic stress. Canadian health providers must be educated about the special needs of the circumcised Somali females in order to provide proper and sensitive pre-natal and post-natal care, and avoid unnecessary operations on these women. The education of the community about the tragic implication of this unnecessary practice is needed to end the psychological and health traumas that it creates for Somali women.   

Poor physical fitness is evident throughout the adult population.  Nutrition is a major area of concern, especially for women, and children of all ages.  In Somalia, foods tend to be eaten raw.  Since Somalis are  used to eating fresh uncontaminated food, the nutritional integrity of Canadian food is inferior to the quality of food that was available in Somalia. .  Many are unfamiliar with the foods available in Canadian  stores and do not know  what to buy.   

Also, many Somalis have developed asthma and allergies because of the poor air quality in Canada. Somalia did not have the industry and pollution that exists in Canada. 
 

Mental Health: 

Most of the Somali refugees in Canada have experienced persecution in their homeland.  All have witnessed if not themselves, their loved ones being jailed, tortured or killed during the dictator military regime or during the civil war.  As a result, many adult men and women exhibit post-traumatic stress syndrome with severe depression and anxiety.  Adapting to a new language and way of life are added sources of stress.  Women and seniors feel particularly isolated and lonely.  Since many men were jailed or killed during the turmoil in Somalia, women find themselves as the sole support of their children.   

Language Barrier: 

At the heart of the health and social barriers of the Somali community are issues related to English language.  Some Somalis,  particularly women and seniors do not speak any English.  As a result, health care workers or social support providers often do not have the understanding required to address the needs of their clients.  There are many negative incidents that have occurred between doctors and Somali patients, and there are few educational materials written in the Somali language. 

Housing: 

Many Somali newcomers are experiencing health problems as a direct result of inadequate housing.  Because of settlement difficulties, many families cannot afford acceptable housing in the initial period of settlement.  They are forced to live together because of low income or lack of references.  Many households consist of six or more co-tenants with children in a two or three bedroom apartments.  In this condition it is easy to understand how health problems arise.  Among the children respiratory diseases, gastro-enteritis and mental health difficulties are common. 

Tropical Diseases: 

The tropical diseases that Somalis experienced in their homeland included malaria and parasites.  The trend was changed when Somalis came to Canada because the weather is different and Somalis began to develop other ailments like high blood pressure.  The medical profession in Canada needs to be educated about these trends and explain the weather differences that contribute to the ill health of many Somalis. 
 

Traditional Medicine:  

There is a need to educate health care givers about Somali health, cultural and traditional issues; that is, practice with traditional medicines.  For example, a small circular burn is scarred on the chest to treat bronchitis.  This makes some mothers reluctant to take their children to hospital emergency departments in cases of home accidents, for fear that doctors, nurses and Children's Aid Society workers will label her as an abusive mother after seeing the old burn scars on the child's body. 

Many Somalis, especially the survivors of torture, suffer post-traumatic stress syndrome, with depression, lack of sleep, lack of concentration, and loss of memory.  It is aggravated by unemployment, discrimination, lack of housing, a long inhumane immigration process, family separation, conditions in the country of origin and many other stressful situations.