Cardiovascular Disease in Somali Women in the Diaspora

With globalization and transnational migration, there is an increasing need for health systems in destination countries to consider the healthcare needs of diverse immigrant populations. This article reviews the literature on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Somali women in the diaspora. Although we found no studies on cardiovascular disease per se, the little extant research demonstrates that Somali women are exposed to multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This important area of research may have been neglected due to an inordinate focus on maternal and reproductive health. We call for a more inclusive approach to Somali women’s health that takes into account social and cultural contexts of women’s lives while addressing health and illness experienced across the lifespan.