# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Sudanese eating in groups during Ramadan.

# data[].attributes.body
The primary starch sources among the Sudanese are maize, millet, and sorghum, and are usually fermented for the sick and elderly (Diversicare, 2022). They also consume vegetables and meats (halal) like sheep, goats, fish, chicken and beef. Pork is strictly not consumed. Men and women usually eat separately, and people only eat with their right hands, except for the left-handed (Diversicare, 2022). It is common to share one meal while eating in groups, which is evident, especially in the fasting month of Ramadan. The most essential food in Sudan is Kisra, which is made of corn and eaten with Malah, the main dish.

Diversicare. (2022). Cultural fact sheet: Sudanese. Diversicare. https://www.diversicare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cultural-Fact-Sheet_SUDANESE.pdf

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
 Birds on the Nile (2014) by Ashraf Moneim Mohamed

# data[].attributes.body
To date, old Sudanese art continues to be civilised. In northern Sudan, Nubian art evolved to painting and sculpture on exterior walls. Ashraf Moneim Mohamed's Birds on the Nile (2014), Eldaw Hassan Bakheet's A Woman and her Baby (2014), and Roaa Kamal Osman's The Beauty of African Women (2014) are examples of modern Sudanese art. Aside from religious-themed art, eastern Sudanese art mixed with Arabian and Islamic art from Western Sudan. The art strongly reflected African art in terms of intricate shapes and Islamic themes. This association did not contradict South Kordofan's art, which featured animal and human depictions.

Google Arts & Culture. (2024). Sudan aesthetic vintages. Google Arts & Culture. https://g.co/arts/cjbEfEHMYXxi7oKq9

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Domain 1: Competency standard 1 and its elements

# data[].attributes.body
For me, the most significant aspect of Competency Standard 1.2 was learning that clinicians must acknowledge the effects of refugee-like experiences when providing patient-centred care. I have improved my understanding of the importance of acknowledging that Sudanese refugees who experienced trauma may have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Having analyzed this standard, I now realise that Sudanese refugees’ individual capacity to give a coherent history may be affected. This understanding will be useful to me in nursing practice because I will know the need for trauma-informed care approaches by considering factors like person-centred communication and care, maintaining safe clinical environments, and knowing when to refer a patient for trauma screening (Working Group of the Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019). Because I do not yet understand trauma-informed care approaches, I will now need to research them to gain insight. Previously, I did not understand that trauma-informed care is essential when caring for people with refugee-like experiences. Alternatively, this could be an opportunity to enhance my knowledge in care provision for different people as explained by the competency standard.

Working Group of the 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 January 2019. Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership. https://cbrhl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Culturally-responsive-clinica.pdf

# data[].attributes.headline
Principal Health Issues Sudanese Refugees Face in Australia 

# data[].attributes.subject
Principal Health Issues Sudanese Refugees Face in Australia 

# data[].attributes.body
Sudan has been ravaged by civil wars caused by differences in religion, leading to deaths and displacement of people. Australia has been at the forefront of resettling the displaced by providing humanitarian visas since 2001. The major health issues faced by Sudanese refugees are lack of immunity to common vaccines, vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, preventable diseases, infectious diseases like latent tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections, and schistosomiasis and dental disease (Refugee Health Guide, 2018.).  Adults also commonly present with musculoskeletal and psychological problems. Sudanese refugees in Australia have been reported to experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Queensland Health, 2011).

Refugee Health Guide. (2018.). Refugee health assessment. Refugee Health Guide. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/about-this-practice-guide/

Queensland Health. (2011). The health of Queensland’s Sudanese community 2011. Queensland Health. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/157378/sudanese2011.pdf

# data[].attributes.headline
Social Determinants of Health: Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination

# data[].attributes.subject
Social Determinants of Health: Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination

# data[].attributes.body
Sudanese Australians are among the marginalized communities and have been socially included non-discriminatively in many ways, one of which is through the Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning (SAIL) Program. The program provides free English and community support to the Sudanese refugee community in Sydney and Melbourne. SAIL students who came through the UN were assigned social workers for the first six months who explained health and the healthcare system to them, which was beneficial (Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program, 2009). Those experiencing communication challenges when seeing health professionals are provided with translators upon request (Queensland Health, 2011).

Queensland Health. (2011). The health of Queensland’s Sudanese community 2011. Queensland Health. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/157378/sudanese2011.pdf

Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program. (2009). Submission to the African Australians: Human rights and social inclusion issues report. Australian Human Rights Commission. https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/africanaus/submissions/Sub064.Sudanese_Australian_Integrated_Learning_Program.pdf https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/africanaus/submissions/Sub064.Sudanese_Australian_Integrated_Learning_Program.pdf

World Health Organization. (2023). Social determinants of health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Dervishes in Omdurman, Sudan gather at the Shrine of Shiekh Hamid Nil, a 19th century Sufi Saint of the Qadriyya Sufi order. Photo by Ahmed Elhag

# data[].attributes.headline
Sudanese Belief in Folk Healers and Traditional medicine

# data[].attributes.subject
Sudanese Belief in Folk Healers and Traditional medicine

# data[].attributes.body
Sudanese traditional medicine is one of the richest in the world. Due to the lack of modern medical services, most people strongly believe in folk healers based on their religious beliefs and practices. They use them for treating mental, physical and psychological illnesses, and the most marginalized communities view traditional medicine as primary healthcare (Mariod et al., 2023). Their traditional medicine involves herbalists, midwives, and clairvoyants who treat diseases such as anemia, bone fractures, cancer, diabetes, and malaria. Ardeb (Tamarindus indica) fruit pulp is normally eaten, mixed with porridge, or used as a beverage base to treat constipation, malaria, fever and jaundice in Sudan (Purdue University, n.d.).

Mariod, A., Tahir, H. E., & Agab, M. A. (2023). History of traditional medicine practices in Sudan. International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research, 4(1), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1200069

Purdue University. (n.d.). Tamarindus indica. Famine Foods. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/famine-foods/famine_food/tamarindus-indica/

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency/Insufficiency

# data[].attributes.headline
Vitamin D insufficiency & Treatment among Sudanese Australians 

# data[].attributes.subject
Vitamin D insufficiency & Treatment among Sudanese Australians 

# data[].attributes.body
Low vitamin D is a public health issue affecting Sudanese Australians due to risk factors like covering clothing, dark skin, and minimal exposure to sunlight whilst migrating to temperate latitudes (Refugee Health Guide, 2018.). Vitamin D is essential in bone and muscle health. There is also an association between insufficient Vitamin D and none-bone health problems. Vitamin D screening is, therefore, recommended for initial health screening among refugees (Refugee Health Network Queensland, 2015). Treatment involves daily dose or high dose therapy to ensure sufficient calcium intake and educating them to regularly sun exposure. Calcitriol and Calcidiol, with close monitoring, are recommended in severe cases (NCBI, 2018).

National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2018). Vitamin D: Metabolism, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/

Refugee Health Guide. (2018.). Low vitamin D. Refugee Health Guide. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/about-this-practice-guide/

Refugee Health Network Queensland. (2015). Vitamin D clinical management in primary care. Refugee Health Network Queensland. https://www.refugeehealthnetworkqld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Vitamin-D-Nov-2015-PHN.pdf