Provides demographic and cultural background on the Oromo community in Seattle, Washington, focusing on its experience gaining access to health care services. Part of a series of profiles of underserved ethnic communities developed by the Seattle-based Cross Cultural Health Care Program, this survey is intended to help health care providers offer culturally appropriate care. Written by and in consultation with members of Seattle’s Oromo community, this profile contains information about the Oromo people, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, including their history of political and social repression in Ethiopia and roadblocks to attaining refugee status in the United States; their highly developed language, Afaan Oromo; their own monotheistic religion practiced along with Islam or Christianity; the size and places of resettlement of the Oromo population in Seattle; employment, family life, and community organizations; traditional health care practices, including bone-setting and cautery; social customs concerning maternal and child health and circumcision; attitudes toward medical care, including expectations of receiving medication for all illnesses; and barriers to receiving medical care, including the belief that illness is punishment for sins or caused by the “evil eye.” Also contains suggestions that health care professionals can follow to work more effectively with their Oromo patients.
