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Croatia is a country in Europe located in the northwestern region of the Balkan Peninsula, it is very geographically diverse even with its small size (Lampe, et al., 2023). The capital, Zagreb, is located in the North and is known for its beautiful architecture and construction (Britannica, 2023).

Conti, B. (2023, August 20). The hidden gem of europe | croatia. [Video]. https://youtu.be/elTiIXElCSw?si=vxPDiYrzuudR_wi8

Lampe, J. David-Barrett, L. John R. , Pleština, D. Bracewell, C.W. (2023, October 11). Croatia. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Croatia

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, September 15). Zagreb. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Zagreb

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The song ‘Večeras je naša fešta’ by Tomislav Ivčić is the pinnacle of croatian music. The song is played at every wedding, celebration, dinner, and party with everyone singing along in the streets of Croatia. I remember my first time visiting and experiencing this first hand as i was dancing with my Baba at a party and everyone singing and dancing along to this song.

Ivčić, T. (2013). Večeras je naša fešta. On Večeras Je Naša Fešta. Croatia: Croatia Records. (2013).

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In Croatian culture Catholicism is the dominant religion with 91% of their population identifying as such (Lampe et al., 2023). While i am not religious the rest of my croatian family and relatives are which i respect due to their upbringing and beliefs taught to them.

Lampe, J. David-Barrett, L. John R. , Pleština, D. Bracewell, C.W. (2023, October 11). Croatia. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Croatia

Silverije. 2019.  Holy mass in zagreb catherdral. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zagreba%C4%8Dka_katedrala_-_misa_na_100-tu_obljetnicu_povratka_kostiju_P._Zrinskog_i_F._K._Frankopana.jpg

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Croatian food reflects the cultural and historical lineage, with influences of Mediterranean and Central European flavors.

Health Issues
Croatian food isn’t the healthiest and most beneficial for health as the leading cause of death is Cardiovascular Disease due to obesity, inadequate nutrition and high alcohol consumption (PubMed Central, 2005).

Kern, J. Strnad, M. Coric, T. Vuletic, S. (2005) Cardiovascular risk factors in croatia: struggling to provide the evidence for developing policy recommendations. BMJ, 331(7510), 208-210. https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.331.7510.208

Where to Next - Europe. 2022. Zagreb | top croatian cuisine. [Video]. https://youtu.be/c6ryBZLxEvg?si=V_jFYv5bAAfcA_4Q

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In the Middle Ages Croatia was the centre of art and architecture in Europe, during this time many buildings were made using materials and decorations from ruined Roman buildings which are still there to this day.

theTravellers. 2021. Zagreb in 5 minutes popular sights in zagreb (croatia). [Video]. https://youtu.be/WR6i5x5ejzs?si=UWqOqZqNaHBDS7Fk

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Zagreb in 5 minutes ✌️😀 popular sights in Zagreb (Croatia)

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The Croatian Government have comprised a new National Health Development Plan and many preventative measures are in place such as aiming to reduce Cardiovascular Disease (The leading cause of death) (The Observatory, 2022). They are also aiming to improve the quality of treatment for patients, along with establishing new institutions. (The Observatory, 2022). They aim to have this completed by 2027 and they have so far adopted the plan in 2021.

The Observatory. (2022). The new national health development plan for the period 2021-2027. Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM). https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/monitors/health-systems-monitor/updates/hspm/croatia-2022/the-new-national-health-development-plan-for-the-period-2021-2027

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Domain 7: Cultural Competency for Migrants and Refugees in Australia

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Domain 7: Cultural Competency for Migrants and Refugees in Australia

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Domain 7 of the Competency Standards Framework For Clinicians discusses how clinicians develop and maintain awareness on their own culture, recognise the presence and understand the impact on systemic bias, and adhere to high ethical standards when providing culturally responsive care (Migrant & Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019).

Reflecting on How I Will Apply This
For my future nursing career my biggest fear is that i will hurt someone. I am constantly talking about how i’m nervous for my first placement because i’m scared i’m going to be the reason someone gets injured or worse, not only physically but mentally. I know how it feels to be discriminated against or have stereotypes thrown at me for how i look and i honestly would not wish that feeling of hopelessness and hurt on anyone especially if its for something you cant change. The standard of understanding the impact of systemic bias should be a given for all people practicing and studying nursing, and i think its sad that people have to be educated to not carry out bias or discrimination in a job where you put the care of others first. I know that i will practice this through out my studies, prac, work and day to day life but i will also make sure that i am still educating myself on the topic because i am so passionate about it and i chose this as my future because i wanted a fulfilling job and to feel like i have a purpose and that doesn’t include worsening care for people with different beliefs and backgrounds to mine.

Migrant & Refugee Women's Health Partnership. (2019). Culturally responsive clinical practice: working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Migrant & Refugee Health Partnership. 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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Health
Health to me means being free of illness and disease but also being in touch with mental wellbeing. I heavily associate mental wellbeing with health due to my own experiences with mental health. The absence of physical illness is meaningless if someone’s mental wellbeing isn’t in a state of content and ease.

Psychosocial Centre. (2021 February 16). The importance of mental health and psychosocial support. [Video]. https://youtu.be/LAaI6JC5eLY?si=qXMqu6EazI7-JxhX

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The importance of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

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Social Determinents of Migrants and Refugees in Australia

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Social Determinents of Migrants and Refugees in Australia

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Three of the biggest social determinents that Migrants and Refugees face in Australia are social inclusion and non-discrimination, income and social protection and housing, basic amenities and the environment.

Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination
Social connection is integral for mental and physical health, it is linked to a lower morbidity and a longer life expectancy (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Close bonds are important to ensure you have a support system in place for your wellbeing and as a migrant or refugee it is increasingly difficult to form those bonds due to stigma in Australian culture around them. This discrimination and stigma can cause stress and anxiety due to the social exclusion they are facing as 1 in 4 Australians experienced some sort of social exclusion (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022).

Income and Social Protection
Not having stable income and protection is stress inducing, having a stable job improves self esteem and provides moments for social interaction and personal growth. Without a stable income people cannot provide for themselves and their loved ones. Many refugees and migrants come to Australia for a better future for their family but are unable to find work or security here which causes long term stress and anxiety (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Low income also means that good quality healthcare isn’t accessible for people, worsening the risk of disease, lowering life expectancy and quality of life.

Housing, Basic Amenities and Environment
Overcrowding is a huge factor in the spread of infection and disease, poor quality housing has a direct association to poor health, including mental and physical (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). 56% of refugees are facing the risk of eviction, 55% are facing the risk of homelessness, and 14% are already experiencing homelessness (Refugee Council of Australia, 2021). Homelessness is a huge factor in health and the absence of a roof opens opportunities for many diseases, injuries and health concerns for individuals who already cannot afford healthcare. As a refugee or migrant coming to a new environment away from your culture and family is daunting, the complete change environment and population can expose them to disease they haven't got immunity to or are familiar with.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2022. Social determinents of health. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/social-determinants-of-health#Social%20inclusion

Refugee Council of Australia. 2021. Homelessness and hunger among people seeking asylum during covid-19. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/homelessness-and-hunger-among-people-seeking-asylum-during-covid-19/

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Principle Health Issues for Refugees in Australia

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Principle Health Issues for Refugees in Australia

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The most common country refugees come to Australia from is Syria. The most common health issues for Syrian refugees are mental health issues, skin infections and low vitamin D (Kiang & Paxton, 2017).

Mental Health
Many Syrian people have witnessed first hand the deaths of loved ones, destruction of their homes, war, and sexual violence. This leads to high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Syrian population ( Singleton et al., 2023). Treatment for PTSD can include counselling, where the person learns coping mechanisms, problem solving strategies, and where they are provided a safe space to openly talk about how they are feeling and what they are thinking ( Singleton et al., 2023).

Skin Infections
Skin infections are common in Syrian refugees, skin infections may present as eczema, insect bites, hyperpigmentation, scars, and injury ( Singh et al., 2023). Most skin conditions can be treated with medications or ointment but its important to inspect and examine the skin to determine the best route of treatment.

Low Vitamin D
Low Vitamin D in refugees is due to risk factors such as darker skin, clothing covering exposure to the sun and insufficient nutrition ( Paxton & Singleton, 2023). Vitamin D screening is recommended for people who have one or more risk factors for lower levels. Treatment for low Vitamin D is daily dosing or high dose therapy, sunlight exposure and increased calcium intake ( Paxton & Singleton, 2023).

Kiang, K. Paxton, G. 2017. Syrian refugees - key issues. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. https://www.rch.org.au/immigranthealth/clinical/syrian-refugees/#:~:text=High%20rates%20of%20post%2Dtraumatic,or%20loss%20of%20family%20members.

Paxton, G. Singleton, G. 2023. Low vitamin d. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/low-vitamin-d/

Singleton, G. Hocking, D. Gardiner, J. Paxton, G. 2023. Mental health. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/mental-health/

Singh, K. Dunn, R. Singleton, G. Paxton G. Skin infections. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/skin-infections/