As a result of wars and conflicts, the recent years have witnessed a noticeable inflation of people who left their homelands seeking protection and new life in other countries. The vulnerability of those newcomers had imposed additional load on the hosting health systems. Precisely, women and teenage girls in such circumstances are to be at increased risk of poverty and sexual persecution.
The 9 years of the Syrian war had resulted of more than 5 Million of Syrian refugees been internally and externally displaced in the neighbouring countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and other North African countries) of which 49.8 % are Both Turkey and Lebanon are accommodating 2,727,000 and 1,033,513 individuals respectively. In camps-population constitutes 493,633 (10%) individuals of the above, 49.2% are females. Moreover, 1,120,432 individuals claimed asylum in European countries between April 2011 and July 2016, 64% were claimed in Germany only. (UNHCR, 2016).
The thesis is essentially influenced by two main factors that are:
- The scoping literature review that analysed experiences and perspectives of women refugees and asylum seekers regarding the reproductive car provision. It had informed the second focus of the research as it highlighted a ‘gap’ in women experiences of reproductive care in transit and temporary settings.
- As a Syrian migrant and a medical professional, the researcher was prompted to further explore he nature of the ‘gap’ in the evidence on women experiences of reproductive care in transit and temporary camps. In particular, the researcher focused on Syrian women displaced with their families in neighbouring countries or during temporary positioning in transit camps, while trying to reach a safe haven in Europe. Hence, the second part is an analysis of qualitative secondary data that explores perspectives and experiences of Syrian Refugee women regarding the reproductive health care provision in transit and temporary camps/settings
The study questions:
The literature review answered the below question.
1. What are perspectives and experiences of women refugees and asylum seekers about the reproductive care provided to them during their journey?
As stated above, the literature review influenced the second focus of the research which was supposed to answer the below two questions.
2. What are experiences and perspectives of Syrian refugees’ women of reproductive care provision in temporary camps of Syria neighbouring countries?
3. What are experiences and perspectives of Syrian refugees` s women of reproductive care provision in transit camps as part of their journey to Europe?
Methods
. The first part of the study centred on the completion of a scoping review of the evidence. As part of the study design, a scoping review of the literature provided the platform for an analysis of the secondary qualitative data. Combined these two approaches were used to answer the research questions. Secondary data consisted of research, projects/services evaluation reports and surveys produced by International and local None Governmental Organisations NGOs. At the core of the analytic process was subjecting the evidence from both sources to thematic analysis prior to a synthesis. Manual line-by-line coding was implemented in order to specify potential themes and subthemes.
Results presentation:
Aiming at reaching some applicable and realistic recommendations, results of Syrian refugee women experiences of reproductive care in transit and temporary camps were compared against similar global perspectives. As part of the key findings, it was clear that the lack of knowledge regarding the availability and the accessibility of health services in countries of final destinations had adversely affected women experiences and perspectives of reproductive care provision. Importantly, relations with health professionals affected the attendance of antenatal care appointments in both ways. While women felt that they were stereotyped and less respected by the health professionals, other highly appreciated the genuine empathy shown. The financial hardships, language barriers, and female professional’s availability also affected seeking the services when needed. Family male dominance and patriarchy that were embraced in war zones was seen as an essential reason of restricting women of seeking the reproductive care they need such as contraceptives or antenatal care. Women and girls were of a higher vulnerability to all sorts of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.
Syrian women refugees in transit camps on the route to Europe had a poor experience. During their stay in transit camps. Syrian asylum seekers, including women heading households, or single women and young girls experienced inadequate services that did not suitably consider gender and cultural issues in these temporary settings, including no access to gender sensitive information nor adequate reproductive care provision. Transit camps lacked also gender based violence services when and as needs be.
The results highlighted that improving women refugees experiences of reproductive care provision and reducing their vulnerability in general could be achieved not only by increasing the access and the availability of such services but also by ensuring that such services are adequately and sensitively provided. It is indeed by enhancing women empowerment to take care of their own health and wellbeing to be able to seek the health service as and when they need it.