Protecting Autonomy of Rohingya Women in Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions

Haaris Siddiqi

doi:10.52214/vib.v7i.8615

Abstract

Protecting Autonomy of Rohingya Women in Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions

Highlights

Rohingya women face challenges that ought to be acknowledged and addressed to ensure that when they seek health care, they can act autonomously and decide freely among available options
Due to national policies in Bangladesh, “Rohingya [women] cannot receive HIV/AIDS testing and treatment in camps; birth control implants delivered by midwives; and comprehensive abortion care.”[12] in accordance with patriarchal Rohingya community structure, male gatekeepers hold high authority over sexual and reproductive decisions of women, evidenced by the persistence of genderbased violence within refugee camps and traditional practices such as the marriage of minor girls to older Rohingya men.[13]
Surveys of community members reveal that cultural and religious stigma against sexual and reproductive health care exists among these male gatekeepers as well as Rohingya women.[14]

Summary

Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Rohingya Women

As part of its anti-Muslim narrative, the Buddhist majority has painted Rohingya women as hyperreproductive. Due to national policies in Bangladesh, “Rohingya [women] cannot receive HIV/AIDS testing and treatment in camps; birth control implants delivered by midwives; and comprehensive abortion care.”[12] in accordance with patriarchal Rohingya community structure, male gatekeepers hold high authority over sexual and reproductive decisions of women, evidenced by the persistence of genderbased violence within refugee camps and traditional practices such as the marriage of minor girls to older Rohingya men.[13] Surveys of community members reveal that cultural and religious stigma against sexual and reproductive health care exists among these male gatekeepers as well as Rohingya women.[14] Due to their cultural and political position, Rohingya women are subject to unique power relations. There are widespread misconceptions such as the belief that Islam does not permit the use of contraceptives. 16 The existence of such misconceptions and the power husbands and male leaders hold over the delivery of treatment creates dilemmas for healthcare practitioners in conforming to ethical principles of care

Beneficence in Providing Care to Refugees

Male Influence and Female Autonomy

Ethics of Paternalism in Provide-Patient Relations

Informed Consent

Self-Determination Theory

CONCLUSION