NUR137 Multicultural Blog by

Healthcare facilitators Helping Syrian Refugees

35196054 — 2025-08-19 04:37:40 UTC

I believe in domain one: clinical expert, with the most crucial section being 1.2, as I feel that understanding the trauma the refugees must have gone through is beneficial to healthcare facilitators to help refugees with their health. Having analysed this domain, I understand that its goal is to have healthcare professionals know that the experiences refugees encounter are traumatic, likely to cause post-traumatic stress disorder, and that they need to take action when assessing, diagnosing and treating the individuals by altering their care in a more appropriate form of treatment. To treat refugees effectively, we need first to recognise the trauma they have experienced and understand how those events affect their current physical and mental well-being. Recognising the traumatic events refugees encounter is essential for treatment and ongoing care. Health professionals must consider a person’s family connections and cultural background to understand their unique needs and motivations.

Social inclusion and non-discrimination in Syria

35196054 — 2025-08-19 04:48:10 UTC

Since 2011, Syria has been in a humanitarian crisis, displacing around 6.2 million people to neighbouring countries and creating limited access to shelter, water, food, and economic opportunities. (Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2022). This crisis is affecting public health, especially mothers and children, as 3.8 million children are displaced, with 2.1 million becoming refugees, and increasing their risk for infectious diseases due to the environment and lack of vaccination (Alhaffar & Janos, 2021). Social determinants like income, education, employment and housing influence a person’s life (World Health Organisation, 2025). Social inclusion and non-discrimination ensure everyone has equal access to education, employment, and housing, regardless of their background. Around 74% of the 6 million Syrians in need of nutrition are women, and 92% of female-headed households live in displacement camps (Welchman, 2023). Despite government attempts to improve how women are treated, Syrian women still face discrimination and social exclusion because they have no way to advocate for themselves. (Moore & Talarico, 2025). Social exclusion and discrimination can cause chronic stress and mental health issues, leading people to use substances like alcohol, tobacco and drugs to cope, which can lead to further harm.

Syrian Traditional Medicine

35196054 — 2025-08-19 04:53:07 UTC

Syrian traditional medicine combines Islamic and pre-Islamic cultural beliefs with experimentation and the Quran and Hadith beliefs. Syrian traditional medicine used therapies like cupping, leeching, cauterisation and remedies from plants and animals. Other treatments include homeopathy, acupuncture, and nutrition therapy. Many of these practices are connected to the four elements of nature, beliefs, and prayers. Syrians use traditional remedies like therapeutic herbs and honey for coughs, grilled onions for the flu, and a paste of garlic, salt, and honey for dog bites. Traditional healers are typically not qualified or government-regulated to provide safe care (Sakr, 2018). In Syria, the most common diseases are noncommunicable (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. In a study in Turkey, nurses who have worked with Syrian refugees believe they have a lack of knowledge, communication barriers, and cultural differences that pose challenges to refugee care (Kuru & Öztürk, 2022).

Tuberculosis in Syrian Refugees

35196054 — 2025-08-19 04:56:29 UTC

Tuberculosis is an infectious respiratory disease that affects the lungs and/or other parts of the body, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023). There is research that shows that in every 100,000 Syrian refugees, 19 people are reported with tuberculosis (Maldari et al., 2019). A screening is used for Syrian refugees; it is either a tuberculin skin test or a blood interferon-gamma release examination. These tests are recommended for those under thirty-five; there are risk factors for local health regulations for those over. If testing positive, the refugee will be offered preventive treatments lasting 6 to 9 months of isoniazid, an antibiotic that attacks the bacteria causing the infection (Denholm et al., 2025). Treating Syrian refugees by screening using the tuberculin skin test or a blood interferon gamma release assay, the skin test is preferred for children under five. There are tests for those thirty-five and under; for those over, it depends on individual risk factors and local health regulations. If a positive test is returned, refugees are offered a six to nine-course regimen of preventative antibiotics (Maldari et al., 2019).