Burmese Culture by

Burmese Traditional Medicines

35181176 — 2024-08-19 07:41:19 UTC

Traditional medicine practices in Burmese culture:

Yawga the prevention or treatment of natural diseases through natural remedies and food such as vegetal, animal and mineral origins. These diseases are believed to be caused by an imbalance of the body elements, which can occur due to unfavourable karma, a change in climate, mental stress, and ingesting inappropriate foods. (Coderey, 2021).

Weikza consists of many aspects, including verbal formulas, medical remedies, and small sheets of paper and metal inscribed with letters or numbers that have Buddhist or cosmological meanings. This is either ingested by the patient or worn as an amulet. Weikza is used to cure and protect people from payawa, the supernatural aggressions from spirits, sorcerers or witches.

Coderey, C. (2021). Myanmar Traditional Medicine: The making of a national heritage. Modern Asian Studies, 55(2), 514–551. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X19000283

Myanmar Traditional Medicine. (2012). Facebook. Retrieved August 20, 2024 , from https://www.facebook.com/traditional.medicine.of.myanmar/photos/a.429097987158157/429097990491490/?type=3

Ethnic Groups and Religions

35181176 — 2024-08-20 04:06:09 UTC

There are several ethnic groups in Myanmar. The largest and main ethnic group is the Burmans, located in the central region. The other ethnic groups include Rakhine, Chin, Mon, Kachin, Kayin (Karen), Kayah, and Shan. The largest religion in the country is Theravada Buddhism. This religion is estimated to be accepted by 87.9% of the country's people, mostly the Burmans. Scattered across the states of Kachin, Chin, Rakhine, and Karen are large communities of Muslims and Christians. 6.2% of the country's population is made up of Christians, and 4.3% make up the Muslim communities. (Evason, 2017).

Al Jazeera. (2017). Myanmar: Major ethnic groups and where they live. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/3/14/myanmar-major-ethnic-groups-and-where-they-live

Coderey, C. (2021). Myanmar Traditional Medicine: The making of a national heritage. Modern Asian Studies, 55(2), 514–551. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X19000283

Evason, N. (2017). Myanmar (Burmese) Culture. Religion. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/myanmar-burmese-culture/burmese-myanmar-culture-religion#:~:text=Religion%20is%20an%20essential%20aspect,%25)%20and%20Hindus%20(0.5%25).

Traditional Burmese Foods

35181176 — 2024-08-20 05:09:27 UTC

Burmese cuisine could be best described as a combination of Chinese and Indian cuisine with Thai influences. It consists of many flavourful meat and seafood dishes with rice, soups and vegetables, either cooked or raw. The rich flavours in the dishes have been espoused from the cuisines to include fish sauce, soy sauce, dried prawn paste, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, chillies and many more. (Gupta, 2024). Traditionally, meals will be eaten at a round dinner table, low to the ground, with reed mats used for seating. The food is usually eaten with fingers, occasionally with chopsticks; more recently, western cutlery has been introduced.

Gill, M., Kwang Meng, B. G., & Moe, A. K. (2014). Myanmar : cuisine, culture & customs (L. Leong, Ed.). Marshall Cavendish Cuisine. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/murdoch/reader.action?docID=1688481&ppg=75

Gupta, P. (2024). 12 Myanmar Traditional Food– Eating My Way Through Burma | On My Canvas. https://www.onmycanvas.com/myanmar-traditional-food-southeast-asia/

Burma Poetry

35181176 — 2024-08-20 06:02:03 UTC

Traditional Burma (Myanmar) poetry has always been integral to culture and society. Khitsan poets in the 1930s were involved in the independence struggle against Britain’s rule. Khitsan translates as “testing the time” or “renewal of times”. (Day, 2016). Many revolutionary poets in Myanmar's history fought injustice with what they perceived as their own form of power. Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing was one of the most famous poets of the colonial period. He fought for independence of the country with his poems, and long after independence, tried to create inner peace in the country with his poems. It brought unity by raising political consciousness.

Day, M. (2016). A Brief Introduction to the Poetry of Burma. British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/brief-introduction-poetry-burma

The Irrawaddy. (2021). Myanmar’s Long History of Revolutionary Poets. The Irrawaddy. https://www.irrawaddy.com/from-the-archive/myanmars-long-history-of-revolutionary-poets.html

Health Concerns Burmese Refugees May Present

35181176 — 2024-08-20 08:14:00 UTC

Burmese refugees arriving in Australia show high rates of Helicobacter Pylori Infection, Latent Tuberculosis, Vitamin D deficiency, and Strongyloidiasis.

Helicobacter Pylori Infection is an infection caused by H. pylori bacteria entering your stomach. It is usually passed on by person-to-person contact through saliva, vomit, and stool, or through contaminated food and water.

A seven-day treatment planned for acid suppression is recommended for infected adults, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor with either omeprazole, esomeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole, or pantoprazole. This would be combined with Amoxicillin 1g twice daily and Clarithromycin 500mg twice daily. For children, this treatment is recommended for 14 days. (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, n.d.).

A follow-up appointment to test stool or breath is required to ensure the eradication of the infection has been successful.

Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. (n.d.). Helicobacter Pylori» Australian Refugee Health. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/helicobacter-pylori/

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/symptoms-causes/syc-20356171

Queensland Government. (n.d). Burmese Australians. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/155835/burmese2011.pdf

Refugee Council of Australia. (2019). Key issues for refugees from Myanmar (Burma) - Refugee Council. Refugee Council of Australia. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/myanmar-burma/

SDH for Burmese Refugees

35181176 — 2024-08-20 08:29:54 UTC

"Social exclusion through discrimination or stigmatisation can cause psychological damage and harm health through long-term stress and anxiety" (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018). Social exclusion can be caused by discrimination of cultures and race, but also by poor health.

It was estimated that 40,630 Burmese refugees were living in Australia June 2020. Many came to Australia presenting health issues such as H. pylori infection, which is present in 80% of refugees from Myanmar.

H. pylori is an infectious disease that could be passed on to others through person-to-person contact, which could cause social exclusion and discrimination against these refugees, leading to long-term effects such as anxiety and stress.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018). Social determinants of health. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/746ded57-183a-40e9-8bdb-828e21203175/aihw-aus-221-chapter-4-2.pdf.aspx

Chaves, N. J., Gibney, K. B., Leder, K., O’Brien, D. P., Marshall, C., & Biggs, B.-A. (2009). Screening Practices for Infectious Diseases among Burmese Refugees in Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 15(11), 1769–1772. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1511.090777

World Health Organisation. (2024). Social determinants of health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1

Domain 1: Clinical Expert

35181176 — 2024-08-20 09:03:25 UTC

For me, the most important aspect was competency standard 1.2. (Migrant & Refugee Women's Health Partnership, 2019). I have improved my understanding of this standard by researching into the health conditions some refugees may present upon arrival in Australia and the impacts it may have on those people. Having analysed that refugee-like experiences may be negative or traumatic, I now know to approach with consideration of their experiences. This skill will be essential to me in the workplace as a nurse because it will enhance a patient’s experience by allowing them to feel safe if I ask them questions about if they feel comfortable or if something in the space may be triggering stress for them.

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