Migrant and Refugee Youth's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: A Scoping Review to Inform Policies and Programs

Michaels Aibangbee; Sowbhagya Micheal; Virginia Mapedzahama; Pranee Liamputtong; Rashmi Pithavadian; Zakia Hossain; Elias Mpofu; Tinashe Dune

doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605801

Migrant and Refugee Youth's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: A Scoping Review to Inform Policies and Programs

Int J Public Health. 2023 Jun 5:68:1605801. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605801. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Michaels Aibangbee¹, Sowbhagya Micheal^{2

3}, Virginia Mapedzahama⁴, Pranee Liamputtong⁵, Rashmi Pithavadian¹, Zakia Hossain⁶, Elias Mpofu^{3

7

8

9}, Tinashe Dune^{3

10}

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
² School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
³ Translational Health Research Institute, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Translational Research Unit, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
⁴ African Women Australia Inc., Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
⁵ College of Health Sciences, Vin University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
⁶ School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Rehabilitation and Health Services, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.
⁸ Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹⁰ Discipline of Psychological Sciences, Australian College of Applied Professions, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: Migrants and refugee youth (MRY) in Western nations are less likely to participate in sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. Consequently, MRY are more likely to encounter adverse SRH experiences due to limited access to and knowledge of SRH services. A scoping review was conducted to examine MRY's understanding of and the implications for inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programs and policies. Methods: A systematic search of literature across seven academic databases was conducted. Data were extracted following Partners for Dignity and Rights' Human Rights Assessment framework and analysed using the thematic-synthesis method. Results: 38 literature (peer-reviewed, 24 and grey, 14) were considered eligible for inclusion. The findings highlighted significant barriers and the under-implementation of SRHR support and services by MRY. Key policy implications include a need for programs to support MRY's SRHR education, diversity, equity and inclusiveness and privacy protections. Conclusion: The review shows that the emerging evidence on MRY SRHR suggests gaps in practices for resourcing policies and programs that promote sustainable SRH for vulnerable populations. Policies for MRY's SRHR should prioritise programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion with targeted education and community resourcing strategies for sustainability.

Keywords: human rights; migrant; refugee youth; reproductive health; sexual health; youth.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Humans
Policy
Refugees*
Reproductive Health
Sexual Behavior
Transients and Migrants*

Grants and funding

The authors declare that this study received funding from the Australian Research Council (grant number: DP200103716). The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.