Syrian Culture- Charnae Niese by Charnae Niese

Syrian Health Beliefs

charnaeniese — 2025-08-12 08:15:11 UTC

In Syrian culture, the use of Traditional Arabic Medicines (TAM) is still widely used to treat disease, mainly due to cultural traditions and accessibility, as medicinal herbs are cheaper than chemical medicines (Khatib et al., 2021). Traditional medicine is shaped by local knowledge, sociocultural and religious beliefs and developed over many generations (Ahmed et al., 2021). Healing is often seen as a balance of body, mind and spirit (Ahmed et al., 2021). A recent survey identified 76 plants from 39 botanical families that are used to treat over 100 conditions (Khatib et al., 2021). Syrians tend to use plants such as Achillea santolina, Allium cepa, Capparis spinosa and Dittrichia viscosa (Khatib et al., 2021). These are often prepared as teas, decoctions, pastes or topical ointments (Ahmed et al., 2021). Khatib et al. (2021) explained that these plants are used to treat things, including diabetes, haemorrhoids, infertility, fevers and heart, digestive, respiratory and skin diseases. Traditional medications are a very large part of Syrian culture and understanding this is critical to good nursing practice.

Ahmed, F., Ballout, K., Eldervis, H., Abdullah Charaf Eddin, Tariq, S., Mehmet, N., & Salih Mollahaliloglu. (2021). The Practice of Traditional Medicine and Associated Factors in Northwest Syria: A Cross-sectional study. Journal of Health Policy & Outcomes Research, 1/2025, 15–15. https://doi.org/10.7365/jhpor.2025.1.2

Khatib, C., Nattouf, A., & Hasan Agha, M. I. (2021). Traditional medicines and their common uses in central region of Syria: Hama and Homs – an ethnomedicinal survey. Pharmaceutical Biology, 59(1), 778–788. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2021.1936078

Common Health Issue for Syrian Refugees- Malaria

charnaeniese — 2025-08-21 02:59:27 UTC

Refugees from Syria may present to Australia with malaria, a mosquito-spread parasitic protozoal infection caused by the genus Plasmodium (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). Although Syria is a malarious area only for the P. vivax strain, refugees may be exposed to other strains during their transit to Australia (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). This makes early detection vital, and the voluntary Departure Health Check critical, as it includes rapid malaria screening prior to arrival (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, headaches, nausea and vomiting, muscle or joint pain, and rapid breathing and heart rate (Brozat et al., 2023). Investigation includes a test with both thick and thin blood films and an antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). They should be conducted on anyone who has travelled through an endemic malaria area within 3 months of arrival if asymptomatic or 12 months if symptomatic (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). Treatment of malaria depends on the strain (Brozat et al., 2023). P. falciparum requires urgent hospital admission and oral artemether-lumefantrine, while P.vivax and related species require primaquine therapy after screening for G6PD deficiency to prevent relapse (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023).

Australian Refugee Health» Primary Care for People of Refugee Backgrounds. (2023). Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/

Brozat, J. F., Haverkamp, M., Hohlstein, P., Adams, J. K., Wirtz, T. H., Klingel, H. R., Hürtgen, S., Hamesch, K., Bruns, T., Trautwein, C., Jhaisha, S. A., & Koch, A. (2023). An old foe on peculiar paths: severe falciparum malaria in a Syrian refugee, possibly infected during migrant smuggling from Türkiye to Germany. Infection, 51(5), 1583–1586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-023-02042-7

The University of Melbourne. (2021). Tracking the global movement of malaria parasites and their variants. In Newsroom. https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/march/tracking-the-global-movement-of-malaria-parasites-and-their-variants

Domain 1.2

charnaeniese — 2025-08-21 07:23:24 UTC

For me, the most relevant aspect of reading competency standard 1.2 was the importance of recognising the impact of refugee-like experiences, including exposure to trauma, and adapting care accordingly (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019). I have developed my understanding of how trauma can influence a patient's engagement with healthcare (Reid et al., 2022). Having analysed the framework, I now feel I have a lot more to learn regarding treating patients who have undergone trauma (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019). This understanding will be essential to providing the best care possible to my future patients. Because I have not yet finished my degree, I will now need to actively seek opportunities to educate myself on how to recognise and respond to those who have experienced trauma, such as through research and courses (Reid et al., 2022). Subsequently, I have noted that trauma-informed approaches, such as providing a safe environment and using patient-centred communication, could greatly improve trust and engagement in healthcare (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019). Equally, this understanding may be helpful because it is related to improving health outcomes by fostering a culturally responsive care for patients from refugee backgrounds (Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership, 2019).

Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds. https://culturaldiversityhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

Reflective Practice Writing Guide Vocabulary aid. (n.d.). Australian Library and Information Association. https://www.alia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/ALIA-Docs/Reflective-Practice-Vocabulary.pdf

Reid, C., Bennetts, S. K., Nicholson, J. M., Amir, L. H., & Chamberlain, C. (2022). Rural primary care workforce views on trauma‐informed care for parents experiencing complex trauma: A descriptive study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12922

The impact of social inclusion and discrimination on Syrian refugees

charnaeniese — 2025-08-25 09:55:36 UTC

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified social inclusion and discrimination as social determinants of health, meaning they have a powerful influence on health inequalities (World Health Organization, 2025). Unfortunately, a significant number of Syrian refugees are very disposed to this, which leads to negative impacts on health, including stress, depression, somatic symptoms, and psychological symptoms (Emmer et al., 2024). Exposure to social exclusion and discrimination often triggers a negative emotional state and, therefore, can activate physiological stress responses such as increased blood pressure, cortisol output, and inflammation (Emmer et al., 2024). Emmer et al. (2024) explains that an increase in inflammation can modify brain circuits, leading to greater sensitivity to potential negative social experiences such as discrimination, causing a harmful cycle (Emmer et al., 2024). This cycle further decreases Syrian refugees’ feelings of belonging, which can cause the above conditions to worsen or become chronic (Damen et al., 2024). Therefore, working on creating a more inclusive society will improve both the physical and mental health of Syrian refugees.

Australia, let’s talk about racism and discrimination | Australia Talks | ABC Australia. (2021, June 5). Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2MabIrcdM0k

Damen, R., Jaco Dagevos, & Willem Huijnk. (2024). Feeling at Home? A Dynamic Analysis of the Impact of Discrimination, Refugee-Specific, and Participation Characteristics on Recently Arrived Refugees’ Belonging. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-024-01135-y

Emmer, C., Dorn, J., & Mata, J. (2024). The Immediate Effect of Discrimination on Mental Health: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Causal Evidence. American Psychological Association, 150(3), 215–252. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000419

World Health Organization. (2025). Social determinants of health. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1