Arab

Kat Keller, Ashley Dibble, Louie Rescineto, Justin Waterbeck

Overview
● Arabic Countries
○ Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq
● Total Arab population in the world
○ 414 million
● US population
○ Over 2 million
○ Majority of people who come to America from an Arab country identify as
Arab-Americans
○ Majority of Arab-Americans are American born
○ Some might identify by their country of origin
■ Lebanese Americans, Syrian Americans, Palestinian Americans
● US Cities with large Arabic Population
○ Detroit, New York City and Los Angeles
Overview cont.
● Migration
○ Arabs have been coming to America for hundreds of years
○ Seeking better opportunities
○ Recently the number of Arabs coming to America has increased
rapidly due to changes in laws, economic hardships, and wars in
Arabic countries
Overview cont.
● Education in Arab countries is poor & in need of reform
○ Come to America to achieve educational opportunities and excellence
○ Arab countries have a shortage of qualified teachers
● In the US, Arab Americans are very diverse in their professions and level of income
○ Some are doctors and lawyers, some work in factories or on farms, and many prefer to
have their own businesses
○ Some Arab American women stay home to raise their children and take care of their
families, whereas others can be found in all kinds of professions as previously stated
● Strong work ethic to maintain balance within life
○ Work without incentive
○ Entrepreneurial spirit
○ Score higher than Americans on same scale of work ethic
Overview cont.
● Besides their faith, family is the second most important element to
Arabs
● Family structure is tight knit
● The family system rather than the individual is the core of the
community
● Family loyalty > loyalty and obligations to friends or even a job
● Children are considered to be the “jewels” of the family
● Honor, dignity, and social status all come from the family
Overview cont.
● Dress
○ Hijab
■ Some Muslim women
decide to wear a hijab
■ Other muslim women
may decide to show
their hair instead
■ Some Arab women who
are Christian or Jewish
might not follow the
same clothing rules
Nutrition
● Malnutrition in children in Arab countries is not uncommon
○ Remains to be one of the most serious health problems amongst young
children and is a main contributor to child mortality in low and middle
income areas
● Overnutrition among adults in Arab countries is common
○ Obesity and diabetes have become the main public health problems among
adults
● Only eat with right hand - which is considered to be the clean hand
● As a guest it is impolite to refuse food or drink
● Tea and coffee are signs of friendship
● Leaving behind a small amount of food on ones plate is a sign of wealth
● However, leaving too much food is a sign of dislike
Nutrition continued
● Tayyib:
○ Good, pure, clean, wholesome, nourishing, pleasant, and tasteful
● Halal: what is lawful and allowed for muslims to eat
● Halal diet:
○ Avoid alcohol
○ Avoid Pork and animal fats
● Wide variety of foods
● Lamb is very common
● Yogurt is popular
● Olive Oil is the main source of dietary fat
○ This is associated with a low death rate from cardiovascular
disease
Olive Oil Falafel
 ● Religion
○ Arabic culture is deeply intertwined with the Islamic
faith
○ Basis for daily life and activities
○ Engage is prayer around 5 times per day
Spirituality ■ Dawn, mid-day, mid afternoon, sunset, night
■ Face, hands, and feet are all washed before
prayer
○ Follow a holistic approach to health - Mind, Body, and
Spirit
■ Health is thought to be one of the greatest
blessings God has bestowed on humankind
● Taking good care of one’s own health is a religious duty
● Life’s events are controlled and orchestrated by God
● Illness is perceived as a trial from God
Spirituality continued
● Spiritual healing is common
● Treat illness with patience, meditation, and prayer
○ Used in conjunction with Western medical care
● Appreciation of strangers
○ Hospitality is always encouraged
● Honor is more important than fact
● Hajj
○ The annual Pilgrimage to Mecca
■ At least once in a person’s lifetime
■ It is one of five pillars, or duties, of islam
Ramadan
● Spiritual obligation and purification
● Swam (fasting) - participate in the month long fast of Ramadan
● Restrain from food, drink, and sex during the daylight hours
● The ill and children are exempt from fasting, however they can
participate anyways if it is safe for them to do so
● Others may be excused for health reasons, but still want to fast-
including those with diabetes
○ A pre fasting diabetes assessment is recommended so patients can
be made aware of individual risks and strategies to minimize them
or even advised to refrain from full observance due to their health
status
In the clinical setting
● Holistic care - Mind, body, and Spirit
● Spiritual needs may take precedence over biological,
psychological, and social needs
● Health care providers should not interrupt a patient who is
saying a prayer unless it is an emergency
● Family members play an important role in the healing process
● Modesty and privacy should be respected
● Ideally, they should be cared for by nurse of the same gender
○ A male nurse caring for a female patient should always be
joined by a female staff member or an adult relative of
the patient
In the clinical setting continued..
● Touch - even shaking hands is prohibited between members of the
opposite sex in public , with the exception of immediate family
members
○ It is not uncommon for muslim patients to decline shaking hands
with health care professionals of the opposite sex
● The left hand is considered unclean. To avoid offence, feeding, medicine
administration, and handing items to patients should be done with the
right hand
● Female patients may also avoid eye contact with male health care
professionals
○ This should not be misinterpreted as a lack of trust or rejection
but, as a sign of modesty instead
In the clinical setting continued..
● No restrictions on blood or blood products, amputations, organ
transplants, or biopsies
● Few medications may have restrictions
○ Gelatin, pork and alcohol based medications are prohibited
● Most medical procedure are permitted
● Doctors are viewed as helpers of God’s will
To Reiterate and Remember
● Spirituality is of high importance, however modern healthcare and
treatment is not opposed
● Modesty and privacy should be respected
● The family is to be consulted in all decision making
 References
Arabic Customs and Traditions. (2018, October 15). Retrieved from

https://www.arabacademy.com/arabic-customs-traditions/

Demographics. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aaiusa.org/demographics

Faour, M. (2011, December 1). The Importance of Education in the Arab World. Retrieved from

http://carnegie-mec.org/2011/12/01/importance-of-education-in-arab-world-pub-46067

Rassool, G. (2015, March 30). Cultural competence in nursing Muslim patients. Retrieved from

https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-educators/cultural-competence-in-nursing-muslim-patients/5083725.article

(2013, March). Handbook of patients’ spiritual and cultural values for health care professionals. Retrieved from

http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/userimages/Cultural%20Sensitivity%20handbook%20from%20HealthCare%20Cha

plaincy%20%20(3-12%202013).pdf