Inequalities in sexual and reproductive health access for migrant and refugee women in humanitarian contexts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/eb.v24i3.4067Keywords:
Refugees; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Reproductive Health; Women; Sexual Health.Abstract
Introduction: Migrant and refugee women face multiscale barriers political, organizational and sociocultural that undermine access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in humanitarian crises. Objective: This study analyzed the SRH conditions of refugee women in humanitarian crisis settings. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance and the PRISMA-ScR protocol for scoping reviews. The PCC mnemonic (Population/Concept/Context) guided searches in Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), International Literature in Health Sciences (Medline/PubMed), CINAHL and Scopus (Elsevier), carried out in February–April 2025 without temporal limits. Studies conducted in Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia were included. Twenty-four articles met eligibility criteria: 10 observational quantitative studies, 6 controlled trials, 5 qualitative studies and 3 mixed-methods studies. Results: Macro-level barriers (underfunding, restricted security coverage), meso-level barriers (service overload, lack of interpreters, pandemic interruptions) and micro-level barriers (stigma, trauma, partner surveillance) were identified. Low-cost strategies Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-testing via mHealth apps, obstetric vouchers, guided self-help showed point efficacy, contingent on confidentiality and cultural mediation. Critical gaps persist in menstrual hygiene, climate-related gender-based violence and cost-effectiveness analyses. Conclusion: Equity in SRH demands multiscale ecosystems that integrate countercyclical funding, culturally mediating services and secure technologies, with active participation of refugees themselves.
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