Preparation for sexual and reproductive self-care in Iranian adolescent girls: a qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zainab Alimoradi ◽  
Nourossadat Kariman ◽  
Fazlollah Ahmadi ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Main Theme

AbstractBackgroundAdolescence is one of the most important stages in every individual’s life. Pubertal changes and acquiring reproduction capability require adolescents to perform special health care processes. Also the possibility of involvement in high-risk sexual behaviors endangers adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health.ObjectiveIncrease and deepen the understanding and knowledge of the factors affecting Iranian adolescent girls’ readiness to take care of their sexual and reproductive health.Materials and methodsThe present qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis method. The participants included 18 adolescents who were aged 13–19 years old, single, studying at high school, art school, or university and had no history of chronic medical or psychological diseases; further, most of them had the experience of menstruation. Purposive sampling was initiated and continued until data saturation. Data collection were performed using in-depth and unstructured interviews. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews was conducted simultaneously with data collection using the Graneheim and Lundman approach .MAXQDA 2010 software was used for storage, retrieval, and management of the data.FindingsPreparation for care was the main theme that emerged in this study along with 19 subcategories and four main categories, including desirable interaction between families and adolescents, readiness for puberty and menstruation, life skills and spiritual self-monitoring.ConclusionThe education and health care systems’ authorities of the country can exploit the results of this study for making policies and interventions expedient to the society’s cultural conditions in order to improve the reproductive and sexual self-care status of adolescents’ girls.

scholarly journals Sexual and reproductive health of Syrian refugee adolescent girls: a qualitative study using focus group discussions in an urban setting in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayan Korri ◽  
Sabine Hess ◽  
Guenter Froeschl ◽  
Olena Ivanova
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background The war in Syria caused the forced displacement of millions of Syrians to neighboring countries. Lebanon is the host country with the largest overall number of Syrian refugees per capita. Adolescent refugee girls experience a unique level of vulnerability during human emergencies and are at increased risk of suffering from poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to learn about the SRH perceptions and experiences of refugee adolescent girls living in Bourj Hammoud, an urban setting in Lebanon. Methods We employed a qualitative design with eight focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with 40 Syrian Arab and Syrian Kurdish adolescent girls between January and March 2020. Every FGD consisted of five participants aged 13 to 17 years. A semi-structured guide was used covering multiple themes: menstruation, puberty, SRH awareness, and sexual harassment. FGDs were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The participants discussed adolescent girls’ health and named six elements of good health, such as healthy activities and self-protection. The majority of the FGD participants reported a lack of awareness about menstruation when they experienced it for the first time and the social stigma associated with menstruation. When defining puberty, they indicated its social link to a girl’s readiness for marriage and her need to become cautious about sexual harassment. Most FGD participants had very poor knowledge of the female reproductive system. Mothers were the most approached persons to receive information on SRH issues; however, the girls indicated a wish to receive advice from specialists in a comfortable and private atmosphere. All the girls reported that either they themselves, or an acquaintance, had experienced some type of sexual harassment. The girls rarely reported those incidents due to fear of being blamed or subjected to mobility restrictions, or forced to drop out of school. Conclusions The findings show the refugee girls need for satisfactory knowledge on SRH issues and interventions to prevent sexual and gender-based violence that take into consideration the complexity of urban settings.

scholarly journals Barriers to access reproductive health care for pregnant adolescent girls: a qualitative study in Tanzania

2015 ◽  
Vol 104 (12) ◽  
pp. 1291-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adolfine Hokororo ◽  
Albert F. Kihunrwa ◽  
Samuel Kalluvya ◽  
John Changalucha ◽  
Daniel W. Fitzgerald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Reproductive Health Care ◽  
Pregnant Adolescent ◽  
Barriers To Access

scholarly journals Sexual and reproductive health self-care interventions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from a cross-sectional values and preferences survey to inform WHO normative guidance on self-care interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen H. Logie ◽  
Heather Abela ◽  
Tarek Turk ◽  
Samantha Parker ◽  
Karima Gholbzouri
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background Self-care strategies for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) include practices, tools, and strategies for people to manage their health. Access to SRH services has increased in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in the past decade. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a preliminary assessment of self-care SRH interventions focusing on access, knowledge, perceived challenges, and recommendations for the future. We aim to contribute to the evidence base on knowledge and uptake of self-care SRH strategies in the EMR. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional Global Values and Preferences Survey (GVPS) to inform WHO guideline development on self-care interventions for SRH. Recruitment was web-based and included hosting the survey on the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research website, and sharing the survey link to diverse SRH websites. Analyses included the subsample of respondents living in EMR countries. We first conducted descriptive statistics of sociodemographic and self-care intervention responses. We then conducted bivariate analyses to examine statistically significant differences in knowledge for each intervention between EMR and non-EMR regions. We extracted open-text responses and applied thematic analysis techniques. Results There were 53 respondents from the EMR spanning 14 countries, including16 health care providers (HCP) and 37 laypersons. Qualitative responses (n = 16) suggest that (a) perceived benefits of self-care SRH strategies include enhanced SRH access, knowledge, and improved SRH outcomes; (b) perceived concerns include misuse and safety; (c) linkage to care following self-care SRH interventions can consider mobile phone apps, hotlines, health care liaisons, and community outreach; (d) HCP want additional training on strengthening therapeutic alliances with patients and practical information on interventions; and (e) future research can focus on reproductive health, condom use, service barriers, and implementation. EMR respondents reported lower knowledge levels than non-EMR respondents on the following strategies: diaphragm/cervical cap, contraceptive patch, web-based SRH information, post-exposure prophylaxis, re-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV treatment. Conclusions Knowledge of self-care SRH strategies varies by intervention type in the EMR. Future research with larger and more representative samples can inform regional self-care SRH implementation. Knowledge dissemination, stigma reduction, accessibility, and training of health care professionals are key domains for advancing access to self-care SRH strategies in the EMR.

scholarly journals How Iranian men perceive sexual and reproductive health? A qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razieh Lotfi ◽  
Seyed Ali Azin ◽  
Effat Hatefnia ◽  
Mina Amiri ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Conventional Content Analysis

Abstract Background Despite the effective role of men in promoting their sexual and reproductive health, they have been often been overlooked for cultural and social issues and limited data are available in this context. In developing countries, the majority of men have limited knowledge and ability in terms of reproductive and sexual health. Hence, this study aimed to investigate male perceptions of sexual and reproductive health concepts.Materials and methods Using the conventional content analysis approach, a qualitative study was conducted on data retrieved through semi-structured interviews with 19 adult males aged 18 to 59 years, purposefully selected from among populations of health centers in the province of Alborz, Iran.Results Three main concepts and 9 categories emerged from the conventional content analysis: 1) Needs including “access to sexual and reproductive health services”, “awareness”, and “high-quality and safe sex”; 2) Responsibilities including “health- seeking behaviors”, “sexual skills”, “childbearing responsibilities” and “ethical commitment”; and 3) Social norms including “gender role attitudes”, and “changing marriage rules”.Conclusion This study showed that structural factors along with cultural and social norms affect sexual and reproductive health in men, who are men not adequately taken care and many of their sexual and reproductive health needs have not yet been addressed. Participants believed that men are responsible for their sexual reproductive health, although they have often difficulties fulfilling their responsibilities because of inadequate knowledge on the subject and the lack of access to sexual/ reproductive health services. Hence, along with socioeconomic changes, the health care system should be prepared to meet these needs and responsibilities using preventive strategies and programs.

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