I think it is also important to note that our view of health is not always permanent. Throughout our lives, our priorities and views constantly change.

For example, if an Aboriginal patient comes in with a biased prejudgment that society might have about them being alcoholics, this pre-judgment has already prompted them to be treated differently and not receive the same amount of treatment as someone whom nurses don't stereotype. This made me reflect on the time when I was stereotyped. I felt judged, unsafe, embarrassed, and did not want to open up to talk and trust. Lack of trust creates a barrier to communication, which may cause miscommunication and, thus, misdiagnosis and other issues.

I have learned that there is a distrust in the healthcare system experienced by those with ethnic backgrounds. As a future nurse, I plan to avoid stereotyping patients, recognize situations that can magnify stereotyping and bias, engage in perspective taking and emotional expression to build a sense of bond and trust with the patient.

End text reference
Working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. (2019). https://culturaldiversityhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf 

The limited availability and increased prices of refugees' and migrants' traditional foods present challenges, especially for those who require halal options. Refugees residing in poorer neighborhoods have decreased access to public transport, reducing their access to food (Right to Food Coalition, 2021).

Food insecurity in refugees and asylum seekers: Australia’s right to food coalition. Right to Food Coalition. (2021, June 24). https://righttofood.org.au/food-insecurity-in-refugees-and-asylum-seekers-in-australia/#:~:text=Unfortunately%2C%20food%20insecurity%20is%20not,to%2040%25%20of%20the%20participants. 

Common health issues faced by Sudanese refugees:
Prevalent health issues in Sudanese refugees in Australia include deficiencies in vitamin D and iron, anemia, and infectious ailments, such as gastrointestinal infections, schistosomiasis, latent tuberculosis, and mental challenges (Queensland Health, 2011).

Deficiencies and Anemia:
Deficiencies were frequently experienced by Sudanese refugees as they were exposed to food scarcity and had limited access to nutritious food and clean water. This resulted in malnutrition, which encompasses vitamin deficiencies, iron deficiency, and anemia (Davidson et al.). Anemia is characterized by a low concentration of blood hemoglobin (Chaves & Paxton, 2023).

Tuberculosis and Latent Tuberculosis
TB is transmitted through inhaling aerosolized droplets from individuals with active respiratory TB. In many individuals, TB infection is localized, hence LTBI (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). For people with LTBI, the lifetime risk of active TB is 5-10% (Denholm et al., 2023).

Mental Health
Sudanese refugees in Australia experience adverse effects on their mental well-being. They have concerns about the safety of family members back home and the shifting of family roles. The obligation of sending money back home only exacerbates their struggle (Savic et al., 2013).

End text references
African Australians Project: Australia’s migration policies. The Australian Human Rights Commission. (2008). https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/projects/african-australians-project-australias-migration-policies
Community Profiles for Health Care Providers - sudanese profile. (2011). https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/157378/sudanese2011.pdf

Davidson, M. B., Brown, G., Street, L., McBrien, K., Norrie, E., Hull, A., Talavlikar, R., Holdbrook, L., & Fabreau, G. E. (2022). Iron deficiency, anemia and association with refugee camp exposure among recently resettled refugees: A Canadian retrospective cohort study. PloS one, 17(12), e0278838. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278838

Denholm, J., Bailes, M., & Francis, J. (2023). Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI). Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI) " Australian Refugee Health. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/tuberculosis-tb/

Savic, M., Chur-Hansen, A., Mahmood, M. A., & Moore, V. (2013). Separation from family and its impact on the mental health of Sudanese refugees in Australia: a qualitative study. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 37(4), 383–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12088

Tuberculosis
Recommendations include offering testing for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) in people aged 35 and under, as well as those between 2-10 years old. There should be an ongoing intention to offer preventative treatment, using the Tuberculin skin test or the blood interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), and ensuring that chest X-rays (CXR) are promoted during the migration process (Denholm et al., 2023).

Mental Health
Recommendations include assessing emotional and mental well-being upon arrival, conducting screenings, assessing potential psychological impacts, considering suicide risk assessment, and evaluating functional impairment (Singleton et al., 2023).

End text references

Chaves, N., & Paxton, G. (2023). Anaemia, iron deficiency, and other blood conditions. Anaemia, Iron Deficiency, and Other Blood Conditions " Australian Refugee Health. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/anaemia-iron-deficiency-and-other-blood-conditions/

Denholm, J., Bailes, M., & Francis, J. (2023). Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI). Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI) " Australian Refugee Health. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/tuberculosis-tb/

Singleton, G., Hocking, D., Gardiner, J., & Paxton, G. (2023). Mental health. Mental Health " Australian Refugee Health. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/mental-health/