Table 4.

3.3.1 Availability of female clinician and female interpreter
008 There is one thing – a communication barrier. When you get a translator and the translator doesn’t really get you the translation in details. Some of them just talk and talk and then when it comes to the translator, he can’t put the words the [right] way…. [doctors] have to go deep inside with [Somali women] and know each other like women, when they come for their healthcare, they have to be given the chance. If they really want a translator, they should not be given a man. Give her a woman translator, so that she can be open to tell all the problems.
029 I was OK with [speaking with a male doctor about GYN issue], but most of the Somali women like women. Feel confident with a woman. You know you can discuss some stuff more with women than men. Because of the culture thing. Yeah, a lot of Somali women they don’t discuss any health problem with men. They feel free to talk to another woman and discuss something like that with them. Most of them don’t speak English so sometimes they get a translator who is a man. It’s hard for them to explain their problem to another man. It’s better to explain to your husband than another man.
021 Religion sometimes says it is good for you to have [a] female doctor if you are female, but because of circumstance, you have [a] little problem [adhering to this]. That issue [happens] all the time. If somebody is dying and if you don’t have female and you say I don’t want to see male, I want a female doctor, it’ s out of religion. For us, our religion says, “If you have choice, prefer female. Is good for you.” But in case of a critical condition, and they don’t have female, don’t say “I can’t, I can’t.” I was pregnant. I needed help. When they [said] they [didn’t] have a female doctor, I [said], “Anything, for me is OK”. I’m more comfortable with a female doctor.