scholarly journals The Sexual and Reproductive Health Context of an Internally Displaced Persons' Camp in Northeastern Nigeria: Narratives of Girls and Young Women

2022 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Marlow ◽  
Michael Kunnuji ◽  
Adenike Esiet ◽  
Funsho Bukoye ◽  
Chimaraoke Izugbara

In humanitarian settings, ~35 million girls and young women of reproductive age (15–24) are in urgent need of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Young women and girls in humanitarian contexts are particularly vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, gender-based violence, and early and forced marriage. We sought to understand girls' and young women's experiences with unwanted pregnancy, abortion, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gender-based violence (GBV), and forced marriage in an IDP camp in Northeastern Nigeria. We conducted 25 in-depth interviews with girls aged 15–19 (N = 13; 8 single and 5 married) and young women aged 20–24 (N = 12; 3 single and 9 married). All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, computer recorded and coded for analysis. The participants in our study fled from and witnessed violence to arrive in the IDP camp with little material support. Lack of necessities, especially food, has driven many to sex in exchange for goods or into forced marriages. This, in turn, leads to increased unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Participants had limited knowledge about contraception, and some information about SRH services available in the camp, but overall, knowledge and utilization of SRH services was low.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
EYAYU Kasseye Bayu ◽  
Solomon Anteneh tegegne ◽  
Alemeneh Getaneh Mhretie

Abstract Background: Sexual and reproductive health is the base of peoples living. However, many reproductive health questions are left unanswered. Hence, this study intends to assess women’s awareness and knowledge of reproductive health problems as a result of violence in North Western Ethiopia.Methods: To attain the objective of this study, mixed research approach with cross sectional concurrent research design was employed. Survey questionnaires, interviewees, focus group discussion and document reviews were the data collection instruments used. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. The target of this study was ten (10) randomly selected districts with 415 women (women in reproductive age) being the unit of analysis.Results: The result demonstrated that, 40% of respondents have an awareness of GBV and its effects on reproductive health, while 60 % are unaware of the importance of the relationship. It also show (55.9 %) of the respondents reported they are aware RH problem can be due to violence, while 44.1 % of as they were unaware. Concerning this awareness, (40.5%) are aware of the problem of headaches, whereas (29.6%) are aware of functional limitation and disability. Considering, psychological/mental health problems, 39 % are aware of the problem of depression and anxiety, while 35.7 % of the respondents reported awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder. Regarding awareness and perception of the sexual and RH problems, (36.1 %) of the respondents reported they have awareness about STI and HIV/AIDS, while 19.8 % have no awareness. The study also showed that unwanted pregnancy, fetal injuries and cervical cancer problems reported by 31.3%, 25.5% and 25.3% respondents respectively. From the study findings, a significant number of respondents are aware of physical health problems rather than psychological and sexual RH problems. This implies even though women are aware of RH problems, they have little awareness that GBV causes RH problems.Conclusion: The findings inferred a majority of the respondents reported no awareness about the types of gender based violence which leads to reproductive health problems. Therefore, the health care sector needs to make significant impact by publicizing and addressing violence against women to reduce RH problems.


Author(s):  
Obasanjo A. Bolarinwa ◽  
Tlou Boikhutso

Background: Globally, most young women have an unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), which remains a public health concern. Identifying the predictors can help reduce this challenge.Aim: This scoping review maps evidence on predictors of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes among young women in South Africa.Method: Askey and O’Malley’s framework guided this review. We searched five databases from January 2000 to December 2020 using relevant keywords, Boolean terms and medical subject heading terms. All relevant extracted data were organised into the study themes, and summary of all the findings were reported in a narrative format.Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria out of 1219 studies identified. Four out of the nine studies were national-based studies, while the remaining five studies were conducted in Western Cape (two), Eastern Cape (two) and KwaZulu-Natal (one). Out of the nine studies included, three reported predictors of unintended pregnancy, while six reported predictors of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among young women in South Africa. The most prevailing predictors of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes were gender-based violence and alcohol use, while other predictors were lower socio-economic status, place of residence, multiple sexual partnerships, low education and being between the ages of 20–24 years.Conclusion: We conclude that gender-based violence and alcohol abuse are the most prevailing predictors of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes among young women in South Africa.


Author(s):  
Qianling Zhou ◽  
Chu-Yao Jin ◽  
Hai-Jun Wang

Databases of PubMed, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were used to search relevant articles on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in China published from 2005 to the present (2021), based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Operational Framework on Sexual Health and Its Linkages to Reproductive Health. The following results were found. (a) SRH education and information among the Chinese were insufficient, in particular regarding contraception, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Adolescents, migrants, and the rural population had insufficient knowledge of SRH. (b) Fertility care services were mainly available in large cities, in urban areas, and for married couples. Services targeted for rural-to-urban migrants, rural residents, and the disabled and elderly are needed. (c) A total of 22.4% of youths aged 15–24 had premarital sexual intercourse, and the age of first sexual intercourse was decreasing. Risky sexual behaviors included multiple partners, casual and commercial sex, and having sex after drinking alcohol. (d) The contraceptive practice rate of women aged 15–49 in China was higher than the world’s corresponding figure. However, contraceptive use among young people was low (only 32.3% among unmarried women). (e) Unmarried pregnancy induced by low contraceptive practice is a critical issue in China. (f) Induced abortion was the major consequence of unmarried pregnancy. The rate of induced abortion among the general population in 2016 was 28.13‰, and the rate among unmarried women was increasing annually. (g) There were 958,000 HIV-infected cases in China as of October 2019. Sexual transmission was the major transmission route of HIV-AIDS. More men than women were infected. Men having sex with men comprised the high-risk group of sexual transmission of HIV-AIDS. (h) Gender-based violence including intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, sexual coercion, and child sexual abuse (CSA) might be underreported in China, since many victims were afraid to seek help as well as due to limited services. Legal and regulatory measures should therefore be taken to prevent and reduce gender-based violence. For future perspectives of SRH in China, it is important to pay attention to SRH education and services. An up-to-date national survey on SRH is needed to reflect the current situation and to capture changes over the past decade. Most of the current research has been conducted among adolescents, and more studies are needed among other groups, such as the disabled, the elderly, and homosexual populations.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242046
Author(s):  
Jacques B. O. Emina ◽  
Parfait Gahungu ◽  
Francis Iyese ◽  
Rinelle Etinkum ◽  
Brigitte Kini ◽  
...  

Introduction Delivering integrated sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) in emergencies is important in order to save lives of the most vulnerable as well as to combat poverty, reduce inequities and social injustice. More than 60% of preventable maternal deaths occur in conflict areas and especially among the internally displaced persons (IDP). Between 2016 and 2018, unprecedented violence erupted in the Kasaï’s region, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), called the Kamuina Nsapu Insurgency. During that period, an estimated three million of adolescent girls and women were forced to flee; and have faced growing threat to their health, safety, security, and well-being including significant sexual and reproductive health challenges. Between August 2016 and May 2017, the “Sous-Cluster sur les violences basées sur le genre (SC-VBG)” in DRC (2017) reported 1,429 Gender Based Violence (GBV) incidents in the 49 service delivery points in the provinces of Kasaï, Kasaï Central and Kasaï Oriental. Rape cases represented 79% of reported incidents whereas sexual assault and forced marriage accounted for respectively 11% and 4% of Gender Based Violence (GBV) among women and adolescent girls. This study aims to assess the availability of SRHS in the displaced camps in Kasaï; to evaluate the SRHS needs of young girls and women in the reproductive age (12–49). Studies of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have often included adolescent girls under the age of 15 because of high prevalence of child marriage and early onset of childbearing, especially in the humanitarian context. According to the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), about 16% of surveyed women got married by age 14 while the prevalence of early child marriage (marriage by 15) was estimated at 30%; to assess the use of SRHS services and identify barriers as well as challenges for SRH service delivery and use. Findings from this study will help provide evidence to inform towards more needs-based and responsive SRH service delivery. This is hoped for ultimately improve the quality and effectiveness of services, when considering service delivery and response in humanitarian settings. Data and methods We will conduct a mixed-methods study design, which will combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. Based on the estimation of the sample size, quantitative data will be drawn from the community-based survey (500 women of reproductive age per site) and health facility assessments will include assessments of 45 health facilities and 135 health providers’ interviews. Qualitative data will comprise materials from 30 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 24 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), which are believed to achieve the needed saturation levels. Data analysis will include thematic and content analysis for the KIIs and FGDs using ATLAS.ti software for the qualitative arm. For the quantitative arm, data analysis will combine frequency and bivariate chi-square analysis, coupled with multi-level regression models, using Stata 15 software. Statistic differences will be established at the significance level of 0.05. We submitted this protocol to the national ethical committee of the ministry of health in September 2019 and it was approved in January 2020. It needs further approval from the Scientific Oversee Committee (SOC) and the Provincial Ministry of Health. Prior to data collection, informed consents will be obtained from all respondents.


SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824401985995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kammila Naidoo ◽  
Oluwafemi Adeagbo ◽  
Melanie Pleaner

Seventeen articles make up this special collection, covering a range of different, but cross-cutting themes. These highlight contemporary concerns in African research and scholarship about the factors configuring the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The articles interrogate contextual and cultural impediments, problematic representations, perceptions of vulnerabilities and rights, experiences of gender-based violence, coercive sex, unplanned motherhood—and agency, resistance and strategic interventions. While a diverse range of issues, theories, and methodologies are evident, all the articles reflect on how the circumstances of young women in Africa can be effectively improved to engender empowerment, good health, and personal and sexual autonomy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. A5.3-A6
Author(s):  
Achini Jayatilleke ◽  
Sumithra Tissera ◽  
Asanka Pathirathne ◽  
Badra Udawatta ◽  
Prasanna Jayathilaka ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Timilsina

Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health are well-studied with accolades of literature on each topic; however, their interrelationships have been under-described. Mental Health problems can be result of concurrent or past Sexual and Reproductive Health ill event and vice versa. This article presents intersection between Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health based on available literature. Intersections between Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and their impacts can be studied through life course perspective and needs prioritized attention in case of Gender Based Violence and for people living with disability. The article highlights the importance to explore other aspects such as emotions, gender and sexuality associated with Mental Health and to study and understand physiological and psychological context between Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health. It also stresses the need of further research on intersection between Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health.


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