NUR137 BLOG by

Clinical expert reflection

35525936 — 2025-08-06 04:25:02 UTC

For me, the most important aspect of 1.1(Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership, 2019) was responding without assumptions. I have developed my understanding of going into situations without any assumptions or bias, having learned how much assumptions and bias can lead to improper care. I now realise how even in everyday situations, my own assumptions can dictate my decisions. This understanding will be essential to me in the workplace because I will encounter many different cultures and religions that have beliefs and traditions different to mine, and I cannot let my own preconceptions decide how I care. Because I have not yet put this into my practice, I will now need to work towards being able to put my assumptions aside. Initially, I thought I did not have any assumptions, but through learning about Syrian people, I have realised my own ideas of them were completely different. Equally, this could be due to the culture I have grown up in.

Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Background 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

Social inclusion and non discrimination.

35525936 — 2025-08-06 04:26:22 UTC

As a Syrian refugee resettling in Australia, discrimination can have a huge impact on health, although Australia is a multicultural country and research has shown positive public attitudes towards immigration, with 68% of Australians agreeing that immigrants made the country stronger(Amaral et al., 2018). Discrimination is still a prevalent issue faced by refugees. A study done in 2020 found that 22% of survey participants reported experiences of discrimination, and 90% of these felt it had harmed their health(Ziersch et al., 2020). It has been reported that discrimination has a clear impact on refugees mental health, with those who have experienced discrimination also experiencing less sense of belonging, lower levels of trust, reduced sense of control and less hope(Ziersch et al., 2020). These all have a major negative impact on one's mental health. Discrimination is a key issue for refugees and asylum seekers as a social determinant of health.

Amaral, E. F. L., Woldetsadik, M. A., & Armenta, G. (2018). Challenges to the integration of Syrian refugees. International Journal of Population Studies, 4(1), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.18063/ijps.v4i1.457

Ziersch, A., Due, C., & Walsh, M. (2020). Discrimination: a Health Hazard for People from Refugee and asylum-seeking Backgrounds Resettled in Australia. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8068-3

Common health issues

35525936 — 2025-08-06 04:27:32 UTC

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic infection caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma(World Health Organization, 2023). It is acquired through skin contact with infested water. There are two types of schistosomiasis intestinal and urogenital(World Health Organization, 2023). In Syria, urogenital is most common. It is common for most people infected to be asymptomatic, but some symptoms of chronic infection can include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea or cystitis/haematuria and in rare cases, genital sores(Davis et al., 2018). It is suggested that people from endemic countries, such as Syria, be offered serology. If serology is positive, it is recommended to treat with praziquantel in two doses of 20/mg/kg 4 hours apart orally, performing a stool microscopy for ova and a urine dipstick for haematuria and end-urine microscopy for ova if there is haematuria. If there is ova present in the stool or urine, it should be evaluated further for end-organ disease(Davis et al., 2018).

Davis, J. S., Phillips, C., & Clifford, V. (2018). Schistosomiasis. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/schistosomiasis/

World Health Organization. (2023, February 1). Schistosomiasis. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schistosomiasis

Traditional remedies

35525936 — 2025-08-06 04:27:57 UTC

Sakr, R. (2017). Traditional medicine: Sharing experiences from the field (F. Evind, Ed.; pp. 72-78). Ichcap International and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO. https://archive.unesco-ichcap.org/kor/ek/sub8/pdf_file/09/7.%20Traditional%20Medicine%20in%20Syria-Knowledge,%20Beliefs%20&%20Experiences.pdf

Siddiqui, S. A., & Shoaib, M. (2022). Hijama (Wet cupping) an ancient traditional healing: A review. International Journal of Unani and Integrative Medicine, 6(1), 11-16. https://doi.org/10.33545/2616454X.2022.V6.I1A.202