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Introduction
The Somali population in the USA is steadily increasing and the state of Minnesota is a growing place of settlement (Njeru et al., 2016). There are several noted distinctions between living conditions in Somalia and Minnesota with key differences being climate, culture and diet. Some aspects of these differences place Somali people at increased risk for the development of vitamin D deficiency in the transition from Somalia to Minnesota. Vitamin D deficiency, or hypovitaminosis D (Hv-D), is a condition associated with negative health outcomes in children and adults including muscle weakness, rickets, joint inflammation, dental caries and tooth loss, and increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases and malignancies (Podd, 2015). Furthermore, Somali people may not identify the public health-related risks of the differential geographic and climatic aspects between Somalia and Minnesota and therefore not recognize the need to alter lifestyle choices to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
Research on this particular topic is lacking. The prevalence of Hv-D among recent Somali immigrants living Minnesota remains ambivalent. In this narrative review, demographic and geographical information about Somali immigration is discussed. This leads to the examination of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among Somali immigrants in Minnesota and the potential negative health consequences of vitamin D deficiency. Exposure of these risk factors suggests the need for further research on this topic, particularly research to identify prevalence data. Finally, recommendations for lifestyle adjustments for Somali immigrants, barriers to these adjustments and recommendations for changes within the Minnesota healthcare system are offered for Hv-D prevention.
Somali immigration to Minnesota
Somalia is an East African nation with a history of civil unrest. A civil war began in Somalia in the early 1990s, which prompted many Somali refugees and immigrants to move to the USA (Njeru et al., 2016), a trend that has continued over the past 25 years. Between 2000 and 2010, the population of Somali people living in the USA has doubled (Njeru et al., 2016). Somali people have moved to a variety of places in the USA; however, Minnesota has the largest Somali population (Arcan et al., 2014). Between 2000 and 2010, 40 percent of all US. Somali refugees and immigrants settled in Minnesota (Njeru et al., 2016).
Based on...