Multicultural health blog: Iraqi refugees in Australia by MonikaBains

Clinical Expert Reflection

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:16:54 UTC

It is important for me as a nurse to apply Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice Framework to ensure culturally safe care working with the Iraqi refugees (Weiler, and Caton, 2021). Competency is mostly relevant in this case. The refugees of Iraq often hold cultural and religious values that influence their belief on health. Family plays a central role in decision making, while traditional remedies and prayer are integrated into it (Marsh, 2017). In addition to attentively listening to patients' viewpoints and acknowledging the usage of conventional therapies, I would consider my own presumptions about cultural elements of practice. Using reflective practice, I would actively listen to them while understanding the importance of their beliefs, family decision-making, and preferred traditional medicines. For instance, I would not disregard herbal therapies for managing chronic conditions like diabetes; rather, I would research their safe integration with approved medication. I put greater emphasis on dedication and cultural humility, and I have faith in therapeutic alliances

Marsh, M.B . Iraqi refugees and cultural humility: A mental health professional training program.

Weiler, and Caton . Evidence-based practices for culturally responsive medical education. Medical Science Educator, 31(6), pp.2199-2207.

Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:19:14 UTC

Equality in dignity for everyone is the cornerstone of all human rights, and this is what nondiscrimination and inclusion are all about.The Iraqi refugees of Australia often face discrimination, particularly due to religious identity, unemployment and language barriers. These experiences can affect their mental health which lead to stress, depression and poor engagement with healthcare services. According to some research discrimination increases vulnerability to anxiety and lowers health related behaviours among Iraqi refugees. Social inclusion is not only financially sound but also ethically correct (Ziaian, Puvimanasinghe, Miller, De Anstiss, 2021). If neglected, the marginalisation of disadvantaged groups can have detrimental effects. The repercussions that are most frequently evaluated at the individual level include income loss, lifetime earnings, employment outcomes, and poor schooling. For Iraqi women social networks play an important role in promoting wellbeing and resilience. Health professionals can support inclusion by fostering culturally safe environments using community-based programs.When it comes to the healthcare sector, non-discrimination means treating everyone equally and without giving preference to any particular group based on protected characteristics including gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

Ziaian, T., Puvimanasinghe, T., Miller, E., De Anstiss, H., Esterman, A. and Dollard, M. Identity and belonging: Refugee youth and their parents’ perception of being Australian. Australian psychologist, 56(2), pp.123-136.

Common health issues and Treatment

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:20:44 UTC

It is found that Iraqi migrants reported a high prevalence of chronic illnesses and mental health issues, even though they had relatively simple access to healthcare. The specific health problems that this community encounters must be understood by resettlement partners in order to meet their requirements. Health is a fundamental human right. However, there are certain barriers that keep humanitarian immigrants and refugees in Australia from fully exercising their rights. In Australia, those on humanitarian visas are more likely than the overall population to suffer from physical and mental health issues. A complicated network of linked and connected components is to blame for this. The most common health issue among them is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is caused by displacement, torture, and conflict (Schrader, and Ross 2021). But as a therapeutic strategy, cognitive behavioural therapy has proven to be more effective. Improved accessibility to therapy is provided through communication with local authorities. PTSD must be treated as soon as feasible since psychological stress can exacerbate long-term health issues including diabetes and high blood pressure. This leads to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Schrader, and Ross . A review of PTSD and current treatment strategies. Missouri medicine, 118(6), p.546.

Traditional health beliefs and medicines

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:21:39 UTC

Traditional health beliefs are the most centralized thing for the Iraqi cultures and shape how they engage with healthcare in Australia (Hajian, and Mohaghegh, 2023).The influence of Islam persists despite the fact that some Iraqi elites no longer adhere to their religious traditions since Iraqi women are economically integrated and occupy esteemed roles such as judges, scientists, and educators. To cure fever, Iraqis traditionally apply a mixture of cumin and egg yolk cooked in water to the forehead while dipped in a towel. Apply a mixture of cumin, niina seed, and black seed powder on the gums to relieve dental pain (Shahin, 2024). Burn therapy is an additional topical treatment that entails applying a mixture of barley and butter to the skin for 48 hours. An adult or older person can treat tonsillitis by lowering inflammation by using their fingers to push or squeeze the tonsils within their mouth. These techniques are used in combination with biomedical therapy. Nurses must respect these ideals and have trust in the procedures. Negotiating cultural health beliefs highlights the promotion of health ideals via culture care.

Hajian, and Mohaghegh. Factors Influencing the health of participants in religious mass gathering ceremonies in Iraq: a systematic review. Trauma Monthly, 28(1), pp.694-714.

Shahin . Middle Eastern refugees' and migrants’ medication adherence: the role of illness perceptions, medication beliefs and cultural beliefs (Doctoral dissertation, RMIT University).

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:37:08 UTC

yahyahyahuseless — 2025-08-27 19:38:30 UTC

monikabains44 — 2025-08-29 03:40:15 UTC

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