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Afghanistan's diverse ethnic and climatic makeup has led to a wide range of traditional habitations, particularly among its rural population. Historically, nomadic and transhumant communities lived in tents in the south and yurts in the north, with Turkic and Mongol peoples preferring yurts. Sedentary settlements in the northern and western regions were fortified villages, while Nuristani people lived in wooden, multistorey dwellings. Urban homes were once small, walled communities. In the 20th century, urban centres expanded outside city limits. Post-communist dictatorship, infrastructure deteriorated, and few amenities remained. Many people left rural areas for safety, living in the substandard housing and relying on private sources due to lack of central government (Petrov et al., 2024).

Reference:

Petrov, V. P. , Allchin, . Frank Raymond , Dupree, . Nancy Hatch , Ali, . Mohammad , Dupree, . Louis and Weinbaum, . Marvin G. (2024, August 26). Afghanistan. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan

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Afghanistan's traditional sports are often individualistic and martial, with kite flying, shooting, and wrestling being popular for both individual and collective glory. The most popular sport is buzkashi, the national game of Afghanistan, where riders compete to seize and carry a headlesss carcass of a goat or calf weighing between 50 and 100 pounds(20 and 40 kg). This competition is often played in teams or individually (Dupree et al., 2024). The game buzkashi, invented by nomadic Turkic peoples who migrated west from China and Mongolia, is played by descendants of Uzbek, Turkmen, Kazak, and Kyrgyz. Despite being practiced in north-west China and Muslim countries north of Afghanistan, its popularity primarily stems from Afghanistan (Azoy, 2024).

References:

Azoy, G. Whitney (2024, March 20). buzkashī. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/sports/buzkashi

Dupree, N. Hatch , Dupree, . Louis , Allchin, . Frank Raymond , Petrov, . Victor P. , Weinbaum, . Marvin G. and Ali, . Mohammad (2024, August 26). Afghanistan. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan

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Islam is the most prevalent religion in Afghanistan, practiced by 99% of the population. Friday is the Islamic holy day, and businesses and government buildings may close on Thursday and Friday. The Afghan Muslim population is divided into two parts Sunni and Shia (Merril, Paxson, & Tobey, 2006, p.4).

Sunni

Around 85% of Afghanistan's Muslims are Sunni Muslims, following Abu Bakr's Khaifahs can be elected, chosen by committee, or recommended by predecessors, and lower attributes can be elevated. Abu Bakr is considered a legitimate Khaliph.

Shi'a

14% of Afghan Muslims identify as Shi'a, following the Ahlul Bait religious teachings of Prophet Muhammad and his family. They view the first three Islamic Khaliphs as historical figures and Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. Shiahs accept the legitimacy of the Imaamah instituition, a leader appointed by God.

Merrill, L., Paxson, D., & Tobey, T. (2006). An introduction to Afghanistan culture. Retrived on July, 23, 2017. https://islamawareness.net/Asia/Afghanistan/afghanistan_article1003.pdf

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Health issue faced by Afghan refugees in Australia and its treatment. 

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Health issue faced by Afghan refugees in Australia and its treatment. 

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Refugees often face numerous stressors during their settling process, including language barriers, unstable housing, financial difficulties, job struggles, and loss of cultural ties. These factors can increase the risk of mental health issues, despite the well-known pre-arrival trauma in refugees. A systematic literature review found that prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ranged from 2.8% to 80%, 4.4 to 86%, and 3% to 88%, respectively (Bogic et al., 2015).

For patients with mental health problems linked to torture and trauma, referrals to trauma services are necessary(Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, n.d.). To provide guidance on relaxation techniques and good sleeping habits, as well as psychoeducation on common mental health conditions and symptoms (e.g., PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress), social withdrawal, disturbance of mood, sleep, and appetite for depression. It emphasizes the importance of normalizing symptoms and de-stigmatizing mental illness. Giving counseling to enhance coping mechanisms and problem-solving techniques for the release of emotional pressure, independent of family and community relationships.

(Australian Refugee Health Primary Care for People of Refugee Backgrounds.
(n.d.). https:/refugeehealthguide.org.au/)

Tomasi, A.-M., Slewa-Younan, S., Narchal, R., & Rioseco, P. (2022). Professional mental health help-seeking amongst Afghan and Iraqi refugees in Australia: Understanding predictors five years post resettlement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1896. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031896

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Impact of Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination on Afghans refugees in Australia and its impact on Health.

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Impact of Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination on Afghans refugees in Australia and its impact on Health.

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Discrimination and social exclusion can have a serious negative effect on refugees' mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression have all been found to rise in response to experiences of racism and exclusion (Ziersch et al., 2020). Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are quite common psychological traumas among resettled refugees (Slewa-Younan et al., 2017).

Pre-migration trauma and the strain of adjusting to a new envirnment frequently put these people at increased risks by restricting access to necessary resources and support networks in resettlement locations, such as housing, jobs, and healthcare. Poorer mental health outcomes are closely linked to emotions of pessimism and lessened sense of control over one's life that arise from a lack of social inclusion.

References:

Slewa-Younan, S., Yaser, A., Guajardo, M.G.U. et al. The mental health and help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia. Int J Ment Health Syst 11, 49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0157-z

Ziersch, A., Due, C., & Walsh, M. (2020). Discrimination: A health hazard for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds resettled in Australia. BMC public health, 20, 1-14.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8068-3

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Afghans believe that regular excercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep are crucial for maintaining healthy health. A traditional doctor is known as "hakim," who provides care. People believe that food and drink temperatures influence illness treatment, with cold food and liquids lowering temperatures (Merril, Paxson, & Tobey, 2006)

Medicinal plants

The majority of participants used native or endemic medicinal plants, with 48.86% coming from wild sources. They used leaves, seeds, flowers, roots and other plant parts. Preparation methods included decoction, grinding, infusion, and postprandial. The study shows that most participants use medicinal plants to treat digestive system disorders, fever, microbial infections, skin mucosal illnesses, nervous system problems, and some malignant conditions, 239 species, representing 78 families, have been traditionally used (Mozaffari, 2023).

References:

Merrill, L., Paxson, D., & Tobey, T. (2006). An introduction to Afghanistan culture. Retrived on July, 23, 2017. https://islamawareness.net/Asia/Afghanistan/afghanistan_article1003.pdf

Mozaffari, A. H. (2023). Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants in Afghanistan with Special Respect to Faryab, Jowzjan and Sar-e Pol Provinces. Philipps-Universität Marburg. https://doi.org/10.17192/z2023.0682

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This image is a screenshot from Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice

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For me, the most meaningful experience was managing complex family relations in a refugee patient's care, highlighting the significance of culturally sensitive medical procedures.

I have improved my understanding of how to maintain balance between the needs of healthcare and family involvement which demands cultural competence has improved.

Having learned the importance of balancing family involvement with healthcare demands, I now realized the need for cultural competence, strong communication skills, and adaptability in care planning.

This knowledge is essential to me in the workplace becuase it helps me manage family involvement and care needs effectively.

Because I did not balance the family's involvement with the patient's care needs well, I now need to change how I handle family meetings to make care more efficient and effective.

Previously, I did not notice how crucial it was to balance the family's involvement with the practical needs of healthcare. I was focused on accomodating the family's presence and didn't know how this could delay decision making and complicate scheduling.

Equally, this could be due to my initial lack of awareness about how family involvement impacts the efficiency of care and decision-making.

(Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds 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 )