Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America
Objective. To understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences of migrant women and girls of reproductive age (15–49 years) from the Northern Triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) during their journey to the United States. Methods. A descriptive, qualitativ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pan American Health Organization
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/57277 |
| _version_ | 1811154859776278528 |
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| author | Paola Letona Erica Felker-Kantor Jennifer Wheeler |
| author_facet | Paola Letona Erica Felker-Kantor Jennifer Wheeler |
| author_sort | Paola Letona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective. To understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences of migrant women and girls of reproductive age (15–49 years) from the Northern Triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) during their journey to the United States.
Methods. A descriptive, qualitative research design included 39 in-depth interviews with migrant women and unaccompanied migrant girls from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from January to June 2022. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results. Migrant women and girls lack information and resources to manage their SRH during migration. The SRH of those traveling with smugglers is compromised due to their limited access to menstrual pads, water and sanitation services; the risks of transactional sex and sexual violence; the high risk of sexually transmitted infections; the inability to report sexual violence; the lack of access to SRH and prenatal services; and limited knowledge about their sexual and reproductive rights.
Conclusions. There is a significant need for improved interventions during the predeparture phase of migration to inform migrant women and girls about the SRH risks they may encounter and to provide information and resources to support their SRH throughout their journey. Special attention should be directed towards trying to reach girls and women who will travel with smugglers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:24:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc699faf24204a6cb51436f61217a837 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1020-4989 1680-5348 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:24:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Pan American Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc699faf24204a6cb51436f61217a8372023-03-10T17:30:05ZengPan American Health OrganizationRevista Panamericana de Salud Pública1020-49891680-53482023-03-0147591810.26633/RPSP.2023.59rpspSexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central AmericaPaola Letona0Erica Felker-Kantor1Jennifer Wheeler2Population Services International Guatemala, Guatemala City, GuatemalaPopulation Services International, Washington, DC, USAPopulation Services International, Washington, DC, USAObjective. To understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences of migrant women and girls of reproductive age (15–49 years) from the Northern Triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) during their journey to the United States. Methods. A descriptive, qualitative research design included 39 in-depth interviews with migrant women and unaccompanied migrant girls from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from January to June 2022. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results. Migrant women and girls lack information and resources to manage their SRH during migration. The SRH of those traveling with smugglers is compromised due to their limited access to menstrual pads, water and sanitation services; the risks of transactional sex and sexual violence; the high risk of sexually transmitted infections; the inability to report sexual violence; the lack of access to SRH and prenatal services; and limited knowledge about their sexual and reproductive rights. Conclusions. There is a significant need for improved interventions during the predeparture phase of migration to inform migrant women and girls about the SRH risks they may encounter and to provide information and resources to support their SRH throughout their journey. Special attention should be directed towards trying to reach girls and women who will travel with smugglers.https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/57277women’s healthreproductive healthsexual healthundocumented immigrantsqualitative researchel salvadorguatemalahonduras |
| spellingShingle | Paola Letona Erica Felker-Kantor Jennifer Wheeler Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública women’s health reproductive health sexual health undocumented immigrants qualitative research el salvador guatemala honduras |
| title | Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America |
| title_full | Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America |
| title_fullStr | Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America |
| title_short | Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America |
| title_sort | sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the northern triangle of central america |
| topic | women’s health reproductive health sexual health undocumented immigrants qualitative research el salvador guatemala honduras |
| url | https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/57277 |
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