How many karen people

Like many patients with a history of trauma, Karen people are often reluctant to discuss this history. A screening of Karen people in Minnesota found:. Discrimination, torture, relocation, and loss of cultural heritage have resulted in direct and historical trauma to Karen Minnesotans. The effects of historical trauma are being studied. Older immigrants are less likely to have English skills, which may increase the loneliness, isolation, and depression.

When discussing end of life issues with any patient, health care providers need to understand preferences based on personal and family views. Almost all Karen in the U. Stratis Health helps customers build relationships, manage populations, and add value in a rapidly changing environment.

Core to our work is addressing health equity and social determinants to achieve better care, better health, and lower costs. Let us help you develop strategies and action plans to make lives better. View our Transformation Framework. Send a Message. Funded by. Infectious diseases are the greatest health problem for Karen immigrants. The Burmese American population is: Relatively young, with 64 percent under the age of 40 Largely first-generation American; 78 percent of Burmese-Americans are foreign born In their native home in the Karen State in Burma, the Karen are largely subsistence farmers who work small plots to raise vegetables and rice.

Diseases more common in Karen than the general Minnesota population include malaria, hepatitis, and gastric ulcers. Karen speakers had the lowest rate of optimal vascular care at 42 percent, significantly below the statewide average of 62 percent, View Social Determinant Disparities Hide Social Determinant Disparities Social determinants of health are economic and social conditions that influence the health of people and communities.

View Diet Hide Diet As Karen acculturate, they replace traditional meals with fast food, contributing to an increase in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. A screening of Karen people in Minnesota found: A primer for delivering care to survivors of torture, including mental health and medical care. Centers for Victims of Torture, The Impact of Discrimination. Stress in American, American Psychological Association, There are about , Karen refugees living in camps in Thailand, and about 50, Karen refugees have been resettled in America, Canada, Australia, and some European countries.

Most Karen people are subsistence farmers, living in small mountain villages, and growing rice and vegetables and raising animals. Traditionally Karen people practised Animism spirit worship.

There are cave shrines at Kawgun in Karen State that are almost one thousand years old, and most Karen people have also practised Buddhism since this time. Buddhism is a very open religion and Buddhism and Animism coexist happily. There are Buddhist monasteries in most Karen villages, and the monastery is the centre of community life. Karen monks are religious leaders but they are often also community leaders, school teachers, human rights activists, counsellors, herbal doctors, and care for orphans and homeless children.

This makes Karen Buddhists and Animists the custodians of traditional Karen culture. They often return to their villages when the Burmese army leaves the area. Due to the conflict, thousands of Karen refugees have crossed the border to Thailand for safety and live in one of twelve refugee camps.

The refugee camps appear as extremely large villages of bamboo and thatch buildings along the Thai-Burma border. Approximately , people live in these camps as of April and many are being resettled to third countries at this time.

International Rescue Committee, Many of the new arrivals in the U. There are over different ethnic groups and sub-ethnic groups within Burma. Little is known about the early history of the Karen.

There are various theories regarding their migration from Tibet, China and through SE Asia most likely in stages. The Karen are an ethnic group historically and currently differentiated from neighboring populations including the Burmans, Thai, Mon and Shan. With the Japanese invasion of Burma, many atrocities were committed against the Karen by the Burmans as well as by the Japanese. For a brief period after independence, the Karen attempted to live peacefully with the Burman majority, and some Karen even held government and army positions of leadership.

However, in the fall of , the Burmese government sponsored political militias known as Sitwundan , separate from the regular army. Any attempts at negotiations among the ethnic groups including the Karen were destroyed by assassination and military oppression.

The Karen were joined by many other ethnic groups including the Shan, the Chin, the Kachin and the Mon in the development of ethnic resistance armies. A military regime has been in power in Burma since the coup.

It has increased the size of the military to , soldiers. When the Burmese military takes over an area, the local people are forcibly removed to relocation sites, forced to labor for the military and used as human?

Women are often raped. More well-known to the outside world, the military regime oppresses its internal Burman population. In there was a student uprising and many people were killed. Many students fled to the border regions and were taken in by the Karen. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was democratically elected in and the military placed her under house arrest until this day. There are many political prisoners in Burma.

Ongoing internal skirmishes, military repression of ethnic minorities, forced relocations based on economic strategy, and pervasive poverty have resulted in a constant exodus of political and economic refugees. There are three main Karen languages and many dialects.

Sometimes people also have different accents that make it difficult to understand each other. Most of the people from the border do not speak Burmese. I t is the language of the Burmese military oppressor and should be used only as a last resort in interpretation with Karen refugees. If it is the only option for communication, then the patient should be consulted and given the choice of accepting the interpretation or not. A small percentage of Karen speak Thai. Around , a written script for the Karen was created from the Burmese alphabet by an American Baptist missionary.

The Karen are addressed by given names. Traditionally, they do not have family names. Married couples do not share a same name. Usually Karen names mean something. For example, Bway Paw means Dew Flower. Sometimes if there is a significant event, a child will be named after the event e.

People may have given names, and then nicknames. Sometimes people take on Western names as well. Karen are often addressed by their first names and a title that shows the relationship to the speaker. Thra and Thramu are used for teachers and pastors. Saw is Mr. For those who are animists, if they have had children die, they may name a new child an unpleasant name so that the evil spirits will not want to take the child. Elders are respected as well as teachers, pastors, priests and those with education.

In the villages an elder may know traditional medicine. Many Karen have a cultural value of not imposing on others or being quiet or less talkative. Doctors have high social status so patients may not be comfortable questioning them or expressing dissatisfaction with their treatment. Health care providers should ask open ended questions and allow opportunity for Karen patients to follow up with additional questions about their healthcare at a later time.

Generally, patients consult with members of their own community about healthcare-related matters and then will have more information to follow-up with their doctor again. Traditionally, Karen do not shake hands or bow.

With experience with Western culture, people shake hands. Karen might shake with their right hand, supporting the right forearm with the left hand as it is a sign of respect to use both hands to shake. When you are walking by someone, you duck and bow your head to be lower than others in the room especially if you are walking between two people having a conversation. One should avoid walking in front of those who are seated. One should walk behind them or ask for permission first. One does not pick up something belonging to another person.

When handing something to someone, it is respectful to use two hands rather than one. One refuses invitations to eat with each other first as a manner of respect, and then accepts modestly. Being direct is culturally considered rude. Many Karen find American directness, loud speech, and body language uncomfortable. Decisions are usually made by consensus. Confrontation is avoided, and problems may be addressed in a group or by an intermediary.

Displays of anger are not respected and should be avoided. Politeness can sometimes lead to misunderstandings of Karen within American culture, as they may not directly inform you if their needs are not being met or if they disagree.

Women are very affectionate with each other, as are men with men. This might include holding hands or hugging, but not kissing. Such displays of affection do not indicate gender preference. Making and sticking to strict schedules is a difficult adjustment for many. We Americans might see rushing from one appointment to the next as efficient, while they Karen might see it as being rude to the person who is being left behind.

Related to the point above, making long range plans and setting goals is a rather new concept for most. As a rule, the Karen will take life as it happens to them. Do not refer to the Karen as Burmese. Ethnically, they are a completely different group and many will not even speak Burmese. The Karen have come from the country of Burma, but not by choice and it is the Burmese that have driven them from their home.

So many Karen will not identify with the Burmese in a very positive way. The political stance of the Karen will vary with their experience, but still, unless the person corrects you, it is much better to refer to people by their ethnic group Karen, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Karenni, etc. Traditionally, some marriages are arranged. If a male is interested in a female, he will usually write a letter to her expressing his interest. Wedding ceremonies depend on the religion they practice: Christian, Buddhism, or Animism.

Christian ceremonies are done in a church and Buddhist ceremonies are done in the temple. Animist wedding ceremonies usually last over several days and is often a long process for the bride to prepare.

Not everyone has marriage certificates especially if the ceremonies were not done in the church. After marriage, a husband will come to live with his wife and her parents. If one is married, traditionally, he or she will not be able to go to school. Although it is rare, divorce occurs and the children will stay with the mother.

Males and females typically will not live together before marriage, but this value is changing with time. The men will work in the fields. The women do the housework such as cleaning, cooking, collect the water, and gathering firewood as well as working in the fields.

Primarily, Karen culture is a matriarchal society. Infomekong, The basic and the traditional Karen dress for men are red cotton shirt with woven pattern and blue wide-leg trousers. An unmarried woman traditionally wears a white, long sack-like dress. Patients will generally feel more comfortable with same-gender interpreters due to the healthcare issues that may be discussed during their hospital visits.

People in the past have had many children. It is common for many generations to live close to each other. Children are watched by everyone in the community. Due to the conflict in Karen state, family members have often been forced to live separately from loved ones.