ArticleBMC health services research2025
Perceptions of and access to occupational therapy services among the Somali community in the UK: cultural barriers and systemic challenges.
Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundThere is a notable lack of research exploring the perspectives of occupational therapy service users, particularly within ethnically diverse communities. Existing evidence highlights significant disparities in service utilisation among different ethnic groups. Developing a nuanced understanding of which populations are most at risk, alongside the specific barriers they face in accessing and engaging with occupational therapy services, is essential for achieving equity. This study focuses on the Somali community in England, an underrepresented group that experiences marked social and economic disadvantage. The aim is to explore perceptions of occupational therapy within this community, and to understand how cultural beliefs, lived experience, and systemic factors shape access and engagement.
methodSix storytelling circles were conducted to provide participants with a space to share authentic experiences related to occupational therapy. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods, with recruitment materials co-developed in Somali and English to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance. The story circles were facilitated in both English and Somali. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
resultsThree themes emerged from the data (1) Navigating the health care system and occupational therapy (2) Worth the Wait? The Human Cost of Delayed Occupational Therapy (3) Disclosure and trust.
conclusionStory telling proved to be an effective, culturally sensitive method for capturing nuanced community voices. This study sheds light on the underexplored perspectives of Somali community members. It underscores the urgent need to reimagine occupational therapy service delivery through a lens of equity, cultural humility, and social justice. Occupational therapy services must invest in sustained community-led outreach initiatives that embed lived experience into service transformation. Without such change, the Somali community will continue to be underserved by occupational therapists. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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