Racism as a Social Determinant of Health Against Syrians in Australia

Running head: NURSING ASSESSMENT 3 1
POPULATION HEALTH: RACISM AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH
AGAINST SYRIANS IN AUSTRALIA
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NURSING ASSESSMENT 3 2
RACISM AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH AGAINST SYRIANS IN
AUSTRALIA
Introduction
Racism can be presented in different ways, like jokes that hurt or offend, some of the time
unexpectedly, verbal maltreatment or ridiculing, terrorizing orbadgering, or critique in the media
that kindles antagonistic stories against specific people of a certain race (Jonason, 2015). Racism
can result in demonstrations of viciousness and physical abuse. Racism indirectly or directly bars
individuals from accessing services or a chance to engage in social activities or entrepreneurship
for example in business, sports, education, and exercises. “Racism can likewise happen at a
foundational or institutional dimension through conditions, strategies or practices that disservice
certain races” (Came, & McCreanor, 2015). It frequently manifests itself through partiality or
oblivious inclination.
In this article, the discussion will be made on how racism in Australia against the Syrians is
evident. Racism will be linked to other upstream, midstream and downstream determinants
generally. A discussion will also be done on what measures have been taken to deal with racism
against Syrians to improve the health outcomes. A recommendation will be done finally on what
should be added to the current measures specifically.
Migration of Syrians to Australia
United Nations High Commission for Refugees has already registered four million
Syrians. 75% of these refugees are children and women due to conflicts from the home country.
Most Syrian displaced people end up in neighboring nations in stuffed and underfunded camps
(Garnier, 2014).

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During the rule of Ottoman, all the Syrians exiled were documented as Turkish, no matter
their region, etymological or religious roots. This implies that early Syrian migrants to Australia
were delegated 'Turks' even though most of the immigrants were not from Turkey. Syrian
movement to Australia started over a century back and a couple of people and little gatherings
landed in Australia during the 1870s. Around then, Syrians relocating to Australia may have
included Syrian Christians mistreated by the Ottomans, individuals getting away monetary
hardship brought about by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The late 1880s and mid-1890s
Syrians started landing in adequate numbers for consideration in the provincial evaluation
(Barton, 2015).
As authorities became more curious about contrasts among 'Turks', they started ordering
migrants based on their birthplace. It was easier to recognize Syrians from other 'Turkish'
foreigners. Among the early foreigners from Syria were Armenians, Jews, Lebanese, Copts, and
Greeks from the region of Greater Syria. Every one originating from Syria at the time was called
Syrian despite the fact that the biggest share might have been Lebanese.
Racism against Syrians in Australia
Amongst many other social determinants, racism in the health services provision amongst
the Syrian refugees in Australia is a big issue. This is because of the discrimination against them
which has led to barring them from accessing health or better health services like the other
Australians (Priest et al, 2017). This issue has caused health inequalities too between the Syrians
and the other Australians. There is a linkage of racism to the upstream, middle stream an the
downstream social determinants of public health (Castrucci, &Auerbach, 2019).

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“Upstream determinants of general wellbeing and are the larger components of the
control of the person and which have huge trickle-down impacts on other, increasingly proximal
determinants of general wellbeing. Similarly, that contamination upstream of a waterway will
have enduring and expansive consequences for those populaces downstream, regardless of these
populaces having practically zero authority over this contamination” (Bharmal et al, 2015).
Midstream determinants emphasize on psychosocial levels and practices. Midstream
intercessions incorporate social promotion and the arrangement of wellbeing education to people,
populaces, and communities more extensively. Also, “downstream determinants of general
wellbeing can be viewed as the results of upstream and midstream elements and factors”
(Waterworth et al, 2014). In certain regards, they are all the more effectively forestalled or
alleviated by the person, such as an adjustment in diet plans or decreasing the vulnerability of
getting injured while working.
Racism is linked with the upstream social determinants for the Syrians such that is acts as
a barrier to access to social equalities and policy and programs from the government such as
schools. This leads to social inequalities such as; social class, gender, and sexual orientation,
poor immigration status and discrimination against their ethnicity. This is termed as a disservice
as compared to the other Australians. In relation to the midstream social determinant, the Syrians
in Australia have a poor physical environment and lifestyle behaviors because of being
discriminated against. Poor physical surrounding such as housing, land, transport and residential
segregation results from overcrowding and this leads to poor wellbeing. Many social behaviors
are concerned about the midstream social determinants like smoking, poor dietary, violence, and
lack of physical activities.