Abstract
The current literature recognizes the fact that persons with disabilities have historically been deprived of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights. Little is known, however, about the situation for women, men, and adolescents with disabilities in humanitarian settings. The Women’s Refugee Commission led a participatory research project with partners to explore the risks, needs, and barriers for refugees with disabilities to access SRH services, and the practical ways in which these challenges could be addressed. The study gathered information from refugee women, men, and adolescents aged 15–19 with physical, intellectual, sensory, and mental impairments in refugee settings in Kenya, Nepal, and Uganda. Findings showed that refugees with disabilities demonstrated varying degrees of awareness around SRH, especially regarding the reproductive anatomy, family planning, and sexually transmitted infections. Among barriers to accessing services, lack of respect by providers was reported as the most hurtful. Pregnant women with disabilities were often discriminated against by providers and scolded by caregivers for becoming pregnant and bearing children; marital status was a large factor that determined if a pregnancy was accepted. Risks of sexual violence prevailed across sites, especially for persons with intellectual impairments. The ability of women with disabilities to exercise their SRH rights was mixed. Refugees with disabilities showed a mixed understanding of their own rights in relationships and in the pursuit of opportunities. Findings speak to the need to realize the SRH rights of refugees with disabilities and build their longer-term SRH capacities.
Highlights
Article 25 (a) of the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) articulates that persons with disabilities should have the same range, quality, and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons
The needs of persons with disabilities are notably absent from the standard guidance for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in emergencies, which does not address equitable SRH access for women, girls, boys, and men with disabilities [19]. To address this information gap, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) led a participatory research project to examine the intersections between SRH and disability in the humanitarian contexts of Kenya, Nepal, and Uganda
Lack of awareness about SRH was most apparent among refugees with limited access to information, especially those with intellectual impairments in all three settings, as well as those isolated to their homes in Uganda
Summary
Article 25 (a) of the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) articulates that persons with disabilities should have the same range, quality, and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons This includes sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services [1]. The current literature recognizes that persons with disabilities have historically been denied their SRH rights [2] They may have less access to SRH information, which can lead to low levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and high-risk behaviors [3]. Mistaken beliefs that persons with disabilities are asexual or hypersexual increase their exposure to abuse and subsequent health consequences [7] To address this information gap, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) led a participatory research project to examine the intersections between SRH and disability in the humanitarian contexts of Kenya, Nepal, and Uganda. This number is far below the 15 % of the global population that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates are living with disabilities; this is due to limited means of identifying persons with disabilities in humanitarian settings [21]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have