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Female Genital Mutilation - A Health practice in Sudan

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Female Genital Mutilation - A Health practice in Sudan

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Female Genital Multitalion or FGM/C comprises all surgical procedures involving partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for cultural or non-medical reasons. (Sudan, 2022)

FGM/C is preformed on the belief that it maintains their virginity resulting in a safe marriage, and a good hygiene practice that enhances cleanliness and beauty. It’s also a requirement for marriage in Sudan. (Lugiai et al., 2021, p. 1541)

In July 2020, FGM/C was outlawed under article 141, with up to 3 years imprisonment. Although there's been a slight decline since 1990 and increased support for the change, FGM remains prominent in Sudanese communities.

Sudan, U. (2022). Female Genital Mutaltion in Sudan [Factsheet]. Retrieved from Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan Factsheet. (2022). In UNICEF Sudan. https://www.unicef.org/sudan/reports/female-genital-mutilation-sudan

Lugiai, M., Shalabi, Y., Racalbuto, V. et al. Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan: is a new era starting?. Sexuality & Culture 25, 1540–1545 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-09823-y

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Kisra is a thin, fermented bread unique to Sudan and surrounding countries. Kirsa is made from fermented sorghum flour and small amounts of wheat flour and is described to taste like a spongy peat-flavoured naan bread without the char.

Kisra is typically eaten for Lunch and dinner alongside various stews and vegetables.

It is made by mixing the flour and water, leaving it to sit overnight, adding more flour and water the next day, and heating the thin batter with a traditional hot plate called ‘saaj’.

An in-depth video on the method is provided above.

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Common Health Issues of Sudanese Refugees

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Common Health Issues of Sudanese Refugees

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Due to the expansion of water resource expansion projects in Sudan, Water-Borne diseases are becoming especially common.(Afifi et al., 2016). Many Africans including Sudanese refugees present to Australia with a condition called Schistosomiasis. (Schistosomiasis » Australian Refugee Health, n.d.).

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic infection caused by flukes of the genus Schistosoma. The infection is acquired through contact with infective cercariae in fresh water. Schistosomiasis is estimated to cause over 200,000 deaths per year in Africa. One of the treatments available for schistosomiasis is blood testing for schistosomiasis serology, Treat with praziquantel, stool microscopy for ova, Perform urine dipstick for haematuria, and end-urine microscopy for ova if haematuria.(Schistosomiasis » Australian Refugee Health, n.d.)

Afifi A, Ahmed AA, Sulieman Y, Pengsakul T. Epidemiology of Schistosomiasis among Villagers of the New Halfa Agricultural Scheme, Sudan. Iran J Parasitol. 2016 Jan-Mar;11(1):110-5. PMID: 27095977; PMCID: PMC4835460.

Schistosomiasis » Australian Refugee Health. (n.d.). https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/schistosomiasis/

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Sudan is both an African and Arabic country, with Arabic being its most widely spoken language and English being spoken. The Arabic population comprises over 70% of the population and over 500 ethnic groups.

Religion is a very strong point of Sudanese culture as well as the governance and politics of the country. The most prominently practised religion within Sudan is Muslim; the show their faith with traditions and practices, including regular prayers, the celebration of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr,Zar ceremonies and Weddings.

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Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination as a Social determinant to health

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Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination as a Social determinant to health

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Many refugees arrive in Australia alone, scared and from traumatic situations but often have skills and experience from their former lives and if welcomed into a safe, kind and non-discriminatory community they will be able to flourish and help better impact the community. Being able to access healthcare without the fear of being turned away or being treated unfairly will enable future refugees and even current refugees who are scared of this treatment to feel like their medical care is accessible.Promoting a safe space for refugees will improve both their mental and physical health and better impact the environment the choose to reside in.

Social determinants of health. (2024, July 2). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/social-determinants-of-health

Social determinants of health. (2019, May 30). https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1

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Clinical Expert - Domain 1.2 Reflection on Nursing Practice

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Clinical Expert - Domain 1.2 Reflection on Nursing Practice

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In my reading, the most significant aspect of competency standard domain 1.2 was the consideration of past and current experiences of a patient from a harsh background, and I have now improved my understanding of how to approach these situations and how to apply the best and most comfortable care. Having learned about trauma-informed care and how to adjust my perspectives to a situation different from mine, I am more capable of caring for patients of a different culture. This skill is essential to me in the workplace because I wish to work in an area that will allow me to make a difference to every patient and learn more about the world and the people in it.

Munnings, K., Laidler, L., O’Donovan, K., Patetsos, M., Phillips, C., Philp, A., Schreiber, J., Sdrinis, S., Ward, K., Wright, M., Abbasova, G., Sarafian, C., Martinez, L., & Dandash, O. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds. In COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICIANS. https://culturaldiversityhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

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Sabr, M. E. D., Spaulding, J. L., Collins, R. O., Sikainga, A. A., & Al-Shahi, A. S. (2024, August 27). Sudan | History, Map, Area, Population, Religion, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Sudan

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The republic of Sudan is a country located in northeastern Africa that borders predominantly

with Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Sudan, The capital of Sudan is Khartoum. Formally joined with South Sudan which seceded in 2011 after decades long civil war. Sudan has an estimated 48,109,006 citizens as of 2023 (World Bank Open Data, n.d.) and over 24,000 Sudanese refugees in Australia as of December 2018 (Kaphle et al., 2024) as a result of drought, famine and war. Sudan is classified as one of the poorest countries in the world with its main sources of income being agriculture and oil exports.

World Bank Open Data. (n.d.). World Bank Open Data. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2023&locations=SD&start=2023&view=bar

Kaphle, S., Fanany, R., Kelly, J., Rawal, L., & Paudel, G. (2024). Living at the Fence – Navigating Complexities While Settling in New Country: Lived Experiences of South Sudanese Refugees in Australia. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 45(4), 689–705. https://doi.org/10.1080/07256868.2024.2307947