Alomair, N;
Alageel, S;
Davies, N;
Bailey, J;
(2021)
Barriers to sexual and reproductive wellbeing among Saudi women: a qualitative study.
Sexuality Research and Social Policy
10.1007/s13178-021-00616-4.
(In press).
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Abstract
Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, sexual and reproductive health education is not offered in any formal setting, and there is a significant lack of knowledge amongst Saudi women. This study aimed to explore barriers to Saudi women’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing. // Methods: The study employed qualitative methods using semi-structured interviews with women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2019. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. // Results: Twenty-eight women were interviewed. Sexual and reproductive wellbeing is a complex matter affected by personal, familial, environmental, socio-cultural, religious, and institutional factors. Being unmarried is a significant barrier to accessing sexual and reproductive information and services, with ignorance signifying modesty and purity. Parental control acted as a barrier to acquiring knowledge and accessing essential healthcare services. Schools contribute to lack of awareness, with teachers omitting sexual and reproductive health-related subjects and evading answering questions. // Conclusions: There are multiple factors that restrict Saudi women’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, impacting their overall wellbeing. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards overcoming the complex barriers to Saudi women’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Public health initiatives are needed to improve youth, parents, and teacher’s knowledge, and improve public perceptions towards sexual and reproductive health education.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Barriers to sexual and reproductive wellbeing among Saudi women: a qualitative study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13178-021-00616-4 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00616-4 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Primary Care and Population Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10130786 |
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