Afghan Health Culture by Mir Huzaifa Irshad Bhutto

Who are the Afghans?

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-19 19:03:06 UTC

Residents of Afghanistan, the Afghans have a unique culture that dates back over three thousand years. The term "Afghans" is an amalgamation of four ethnic groups: Pashtuns, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Tajiks. Recently, the Afghans have suffered immense hardships under the rule of the Taliban when they took over in 2021, with women and children being the most affected. WHO reports that "7.5 million children and 3.1 million women" are in the spotlight for humanitarian aid (WHO, 2023). Subsequently, the Afghan culture has deep and strong roots in Islam, architecture, and herbal medicine that is still practiced by healers across the country.

WHO. (2023, August 18). Afghanistan’s health system suffers critical underfunding, calls for donor support. Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news/item/18-08-2023-afghanistan-s-health-system-suffers-critical-underfunding--calls-for-donor-support

Afghan Refugees

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-22 18:02:44 UTC

The Taliban surged to power when the US military evacuated their operations in 2021, which caused an upheaval of Afghan refugees fleeing the country. Australia has granted over "15,852 visas as of December 2023" (Canales, 2024). Furthermore, the Australian Government has settled 26500 humanitarian visas till 2026 for Afghan refugees to settle as asylum seekers. The significant influx of refugees has caused strict adherence to the Australian Refugee Guide by healthcare professionals. Aspects that are taken into account are TB, cardiovascular diseases, and PTSD. The 20-year US war on terror left the Afghans stranded for a place they could call home while seeking refuge from the Taliban.

Canales, S. B. (2024, January 16). Australia urged to speed up visas for Afghan women who fear being sent back to Taliban rule. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/17/australia-urged-to-speed-up-visas-for-afghan-women-who-fear-being-sent-back-to-taliban-rule#:~:text=The%20federal%20government%20has%20received,far%20as%20of%20December%202023.

Mullah

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-22 18:19:21 UTC

Mullahs are self-taught healers who are well-versed in homeopathy and alchemy. A fundamental health belief embedded in Afghan culture is respecting and trusting Mullahs. They perform various rituals to cure illness and make amulets that go around the person's neck to protect them from "supernatural forces called Jinns. (Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center, n.d.). Herbal medicinal mixtures, which include traditional herbs and spices with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Kalonji (Black Seeds), are also practiced. Mullahs also perform Unani Medicine, which is "a system of alternative traditional medicine." (Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center, n.d.). They prefer curing TB, which is prevalent in Afghanistan, with warmth and rest rather than using Western medicines.

Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center. (n.d.). SNTC Quick Reference Guide: Afghanistan [Report]. https://sntc.medicine.ufl.edu/Content/Products/Downloads/Afghanistan%20Cultural%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide.pdf

Culturally Competent Standard 1.2

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-23 18:38:12 UTC

Standard 1.2 resonated with me the most due to its significant impact on the care I will administer. Moreover, based on the Australian Refugee Guide, I have developed critical thinking skills, which will translate into delivering culturally safe care to refugees. I plan to utilize this newfound competency I have harnessed in my practice by never making assumptions or judging refugee backgrounds patients. I aim to sympathize with said patients to understand their trauma further and share their burden. Educating myself on "experiences of traumatic events and PTSD" will aid me in delivering person-centered care and using them to conduct comprehensive assessments. (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 COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICIANS. https://culturaldiversityhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

Hampton, M. (2014). Reflective Practice Writing Guide. https://www.alia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/ALIA-Docs/Reflective-Practice-Vocabulary.pdf

Kabuli Pulao

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-25 16:53:54 UTC

Long grain rice cooked in the broth of succulent, tender, and hearty beef chunks is added to a mixture of fatty cashews, sugar-glazed carrots, and juicy sultanas. This Afghan delicacy was not invented in the capital city, Kabul, but rather in the North. The dish has excellent macronutrients, fueling the body with a superb balance of carbohydrates, fats, and protein, making this a nutrient dense meal. Kabuli Pulao was shared amongst the working class and spread to neighboring parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. It has become the signature dish for Pathans and Afghans, who share the gratitude of having such a rich and diverse culture.

Tuberculosis

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-25 16:54:23 UTC

The primary health concern I would have among Afghan refugees would be tuberculosis. WHO reports that around "13000 Afghans die each year because of the disease" (Afghanistan, n.d.). TB is an absolutely preventable illness that can be tackled with pre-departure and post-migration to Australia screening tests. I would conduct a Tuberculin skin test and an IGRA test on refugees. This will fulfill the secondary and tertiary stages of prevention and ensure that my patients are on the path to healing. I will refer positively tested patients to "TB specialists for the exclusion of active TB." (Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI) » Australian Refugee Health, n.d.). Tests and a six-month course of antibiotics will help slow the chance of pulmonary TB.

Afghanistan. (n.d.). Tuberculosis kills 13 000 Afghans every year. World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. https://www.emro.who.int/afg/afghanistan-news/tuberculosis-kills-13-000-afghans-every-year.html

Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI) » Australian Refugee Health. (n.d.). https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/tuberculosis-tb/

Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination.

hydraulicmoth82 — 2024-08-26 19:03:12 UTC

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

Australian Human Rights Commission. (2013). Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Australia | Australian Human Rights Commission. Humanrights.gov.au. https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/speeches/social-inclusion-and-human-rights-australia

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