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"Unveiling Sudanese Culture's Influence on Health Beliefs: Enhancing Culturally Responsive Nursing Care in Australia"

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"Unveiling Sudanese Culture's Influence on Health Beliefs: Enhancing Culturally Responsive Nursing Care in Australia"

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Post 1: Understanding Psychosociocultural Models in Healthcare

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Post 1: Understanding Psychosociocultural Models in Healthcare

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Healthcare encompasses not only physical well-being but also psychosociocultural elements that significantly impact an individual's health journey (Matthews & Diab, 2016).

1.       Psychosocial Model:

This model emphasizes the interplay between psychological and social factors in shaping health. For migrants and refugees, factors like acculturation stress, trauma, and social support play pivotal roles in health outcomes. (Ermansons et al., 2023)

2.       Socioecological Model:

The socioecological model considers the broader social, cultural, and environmental influences on health. It recognizes that an individual's well-being is intricately linked to their community, societal norms, and access to resources. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)

3.       The psychocultural model of health

This is a framework that recognizes the intricate interplay between psychological, social, and cultural factors in shaping an individual's health and well-being (Mubiayi Mamba, 2020). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice Framework is one such example. The framework has 6 competency domains for the clinicians discussing their varied roles in culturally sensitive healthcare including role as a Clinical Expert, Communicator, Collaborator, Leader, Health Advocate, Scholar, and health professional (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019)

Why It Matters:

For clinicians, integrating these frameworks into practice is pivotal. Culturally responsive care fosters trust, improves patient engagement, and ensures healthcare that aligns with individuals' cultural beliefs and needs. (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019)

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Post 2: Culturally Safe Nursing Care Via Exploring Cultural Health Beliefs.

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Post 2: Culturally Safe Nursing Care Via Exploring Cultural Health Beliefs.

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Exploring cultural health beliefs is an essential aspect of providing culturally safe nursing care. Demonstrating the knowledge and skills required involves (Washington, 2023):

1.       Research Diverse Health Beliefs: Explore varied cultural health beliefs, showcasing diverse health perceptions.

2.       Respect Cultural Beliefs: Emphasize acknowledging and respecting these beliefs in nursing care, influencing health behaviors and decisions.

3.       Integrating Beliefs in Care: Show how understanding these beliefs aids in integrating them into care plans, including alternative treatments.

4.       Culturally Competent Communication: Discuss communication strategies reflecting cultural competence, fostering open dialogue and active listening.

5.       Tailored Patient Education: Highlight adapting education to align with patients' cultural perspectives on health.

6.       Ethical Challenges: Address ethical dilemmas when cultural beliefs clash with Western medicine, offering strategies for respect and patient autonomy.

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Post 3: Unveiling Sudanese Health Beliefs and Traditional Medicine

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Post 3: Unveiling Sudanese Health Beliefs and Traditional Medicine

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Traditional medicine in Sudan is a holistic science, encompassing medicinal herbs, and spirituality and religious belief. Diagnosis involves spiritual means, and treatment often includes herbal remedies that possess not only healing powers but also symbolic and spiritual significance. Traditional healers in Sudan believe that illness results from spiritual or social imbalances. (MARIOD et al., 2023; Saeed, 1984).

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Post 4: Reflecting on Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: A Journey into Domain 1

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Post 4: Reflecting on Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: A Journey into Domain 1

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Reflection on Competency Standard 1.2: Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity

Competency Standard 1.2 acknowledges personal cultural influence on health perceptions, values, and attitudes, recognizing potential impacts on interactions with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds(Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019).

Reflecting on this competency, I recall an event when I applied the phenomenon of cultural awareness in nursing practice with a Sudanese patient wherein the patient's health beliefs varied from Western medicine. Acknowledging my cultural influence, I avoided biases and engaged in open dialogue to understand and incorporate the patient's health beliefs, thus enhancing the therapeutic relationship and fostering a holistic and culturally responsive care plan.

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Post 5: Exploring Social Determinants of Health: A Global and Australian Multicultural Perspective

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Post 5: Exploring Social Determinants of Health: A Global and Australian Multicultural Perspective

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Global Perspective

🌐 Income Disparities

Income inequality is a pervasive global issue, impacting health outcomes across diverse populations. For Sudanese refugees coming from an underdeveloped country, financial limitations hinder access to essential healthcare services, exacerbating health disparities globally  (World Health Organization, 2022; Hynie, 2017).

📚 Educational Barriers

Educational disparities contribute significantly to health inequalities. Refugees face interrupted education or limited educational opportunities because of conflict, displacement or otherwise (World Health Organization, 2022; Hynie, 2017).

🌍 Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination

Because of the fact that they come from an underdeveloped country with extremely limited financial resources, Sudanese experience social exclusion globally (World Health Organization, 2022; Hynie, 2017).

Australian Multicultural Perspective (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022)

💲 Income and Health

In Australia, income disparities persist among refugee populations. Limited financial resources lead to challenges in accessing private healthcare, resulting in reliance on public services. (Ziersch et al., 2020)

📖 Education and Health Literacy

Due to inability to speak English, majority of the refugee population in Australia face challenges in accessing education and training. (Ziersch et al., 2020)

🤝 Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination

Discrimination against Sudanese refugees in Australia stem from various factors, including cultural differences, racial biases, and misunderstandings, pre-existing stereotypes or negative perceptions about refugees, language barriers, unfamiliarity with local customs, and socio-economic disparities leading to misunderstandings or biases. (Ziersch et al., 2020)

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Post 6: Addressing Health Concerns of Sudanese Refugees in Australia

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Post 6: Addressing Health Concerns of Sudanese Refugees in Australia

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Referencing the 'Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide produced by Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc (2023),' let's shed light on three prevalent health issues and explore viable treatment options.

1.       Infectious Diseases: Sudanese refugees, having often endured challenging conditions in refugee camps, may be at a higher risk of infectious diseases like tuberculosis. Treatment Option involves Isoniazid (INH) as the primary choice for preventive therapy. (Francis et al., 2023).

2.       Mental Health Challenges: The journey of displacement, trauma, and adapting to a new environment can contribute to mental health issues among Sudanese refugees such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Culturally competent psychotherapy and counseling tailored to the unique needs and cultural backgrounds of refugees as a preferred treatment option (Singleton et al., 2023).

3.       Nutritional Deficiencies: For individuals from refugee-like backgrounds, particularly from Sudan, who may face poor access to food, addressing vitamin B12 deficiency is crucial. The recommended treatment involves intramuscular or oral supplementation based on the severity of the deficiency and patient preference. (Chaves & Paxton, 2023)

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Post 7: Nurturing Cultural Sensitivity: Sudanese Dress in Healthcare

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Post 7: Nurturing Cultural Sensitivity: Sudanese Dress in Healthcare

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In Sudanese culture, particularly among Muslim patients, privacy and modesty are vital considerations in healthcare. Aligning with a patient's gender preference, especially in obstetric or gynecologic care, enhances cultural sensitivity. Seeking permission and explaining each step during exams, respecting restrictions on touch, and acknowledging the significance of visitors are crucial practices.

Modesty in dress, a mandate in Islam, requires Muslim women to cover arms, legs, and hair. Standard hospital gowns may cause discomfort, so announcing arrivals, and providing private spaces for breastfeeding demonstrate cultural understanding. These practices contribute to a culturally safe healthcare environment, fostering patient comfort and trust (Attum et al., 2023).

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Post 8: Integrating Sudanese Dance for Holistic Nursing Care 

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Post 8: Integrating Sudanese Dance for Holistic Nursing Care 

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Traditional Dance as a cultural expression goes beyond entertainment; it is a profound reflection of spiritual connection with functional outcomes including people’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing (Ravelin et al., 2006) Sudanese dance holds therapeutic value in nursing care, offering a culturally sensitive approach to enhance well-being.

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Post 9: Artistic Expressions and Nursing Care

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Post 9: Artistic Expressions and Nursing Care

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Sudanese arts encompass a diverse range of forms, from intricate calligraphy to book decoration to vibrant paintings and sculptures (Hassan , 2014).

Engagement with visual arts has been linked to improved mental well-being, stress reduction, and enhanced cognitive abilities. The act of creating art can be therapeutic, offering individuals a means of self-expression and reflection and thus can be used as therapeutic interventions (Vaartio-Rajalin et al., 2020).

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Post 10: Sudanese Language & Nursing Care

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Post 10: Sudanese Language & Nursing Care

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In the context of the Sudanese community in Australia, linguistic diversity is notable, with major language groups including Arabic, English, and Dinka, along with some recognition for middle-sized languages like Nuer and Acholi (Musgrave & Hajek, 2010).

Australian nurses, operating in a culturally diverse healthcare landscape, face the challenge of meeting the nursing care needs of individuals from various cultural backgrounds, including those with limited or no proficiency in English. This underscores the importance of linguistic competence and cultural awareness in nursing interventions to ensure effective and patient-centered care (Chenowethm et al., 2006).

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Post 11: Culturally Competent Nursing Care for Sudanese Food Practices

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Post 11: Culturally Competent Nursing Care for Sudanese Food Practices

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Understanding Sudanese food culture is vital for culturally competent nursing. In Sudanese Islam, food isn't just nourishment; it reflects religious beliefs with distinctions between 'halal' (sacred) and 'haram' (forbidden) foods. Nurses must acknowledge these distinctions, ensuring hospital meals align with halal practices, respecting religious boundaries to prevent undernutrition risks as well as formulating care plans that would give due consideration to Sudanese dietary customs, thus fostering inclusive and patient-centered approach. (Alpers, 2019).

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Post 12: Harmony in Healthcare: Traditional Music in Nursing

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Post 12: Harmony in Healthcare: Traditional Music in Nursing

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Sudanese music, rooted in traditional African and Arabic influences, has evolved into a diverse blend of modern popular forms, shaped by cultural diversity. (Embassy of the Republic of The Sudan , 2023).

Traditional music, rooted in cultural significance, offers therapeutic benefits in nursing care. Traditional tunes, like contemporary anti-anxiety medications, reduce stress during medical procedures, fostering a serene atmosphere. Patient-chosen traditional melodies positively impact pain perception and anxiety, bridging medical settings with cultural comfort and promoting a patient-centered approach (Walden University, 2017).