Title

Reducing hypovitaminosis D among Somali immigrants in Minnesota: a narrative review

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Somalia is an East African nation with a history of civil unrest that produced a significant influx of refugees in the USA in the last 25 years. Between 2000 and 2010, 40 percent of all US Somali refugees settled in Minnesota, which produces new cultural and health challenges for local communities and the state government. One such challenge is vitamin D deficiency, or hypovitaminosis D (Hv-D). Hv-D is developed through insufficient exposure to sunlight and low nutrient intake leading to increased risk for weakness and inflammation, oral health problems, diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases and malignancies. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-04-2018-0033

Rights

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Qubty, L., Aboul-Enein, B., Bechard, L., Bernstein, J. and Kruk, J. (2019), "Reducing hypovitaminosis D among Somali immigrants in Minnesota: a narrative review", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 50-59. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-04-2018-0033

Share

COinS