Reproductive health and family planning photo essay
- 1. Sudanese refugees in the Tréguine camp in Chad. ACT/LWF/DWS_Chad/Anna Palmén Access to reproductive health (RH) is both a right and a need, but in crises these services are not always available or a priority. Providing reproductive care to those in need would substantially reduce maternal deaths, new born deaths and unintended pregnancies. During crises, women and girls are also at greater risk for sexual abuse and exploitation, including rape. RH programs can offer life-saving protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, life-threatening pregnancies, and provide neo-natal care for both mother and child.
- 2. Women in Bongouanou, Côte d'Ivoire. UN Photo/Hien Macline Family planning (FP) allows individuals and couples to plan for, and have their desired number of children; however, over 200 million women worldwide who want to use contraceptives don’t have access to them. Family planning benefits extend beyond meeting family size-desires. In precarious situations, like those refugees find themselves in, smaller families are more financially sustainable and have more potential for economic well-being. This is especially important to refugees who have lost everything, and must start over in means of employment and income generation.
- 3. Seeking reproductive healthcare in Garhi Habibullah, Pakistan. UN Photo/Evan Schneider Since the mid 1990s, there has been significant advocacy done to move forward reproductive health rights and programs for refugees. With the creation of the Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations (IAWG), further awareness has been raised, and minimum standards guidelines and protocol were developed. However, there are still great gaps in universal implementation, minimum standards, and provisions of education and contraception. A severe lack of funding also negatively impacts the provision of reproductive health and family planning across emergencies and crises.
- 4. A woman receives FP care in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pathfinder International Family planning leads to better nutrition for children, improves access to educational and livelihood opportunities (especially for women and girls), and allows families to better manage their scarce resources. It is important that FP is included in broader reproductive health initiatives, which ideally include safe pregnancy/motherhood, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, and sexual- and gender-based violence. The integration of services will better meet refugees’ present and future needs, as well as improve program efficiency and effectiveness of services.
- 5. A new family in Rwamawanja Refugee Camp in Uganda. UNFPA Reproductive health practices traditionally start with the household and community, but as societal fabrics and infrastructure are broken during crises, refugees turn to organizations on the ground. Due to lack of funding or stipulations of host countries, these programs are not always available. Where implemented, in addition to healthcare, programs should offer RH education to both men and women. In many instances, family planning decisions are deferred to men, though some women feel so strongly about receiving this care, they seek out assistance unbeknownst to their fathers or husbands. Including men helps alleviate some of their hesitation towards family planning methods. Good reproductive health benefits all of the family’s health and finances – something that tends to resonate with all family members.
- 6. A Hmong mother and child in a northern province of Vietnam. Nguyen Huy Kham/Courtesy Reuters Religion and cultural traditions also play roles in family planning. Many norms dictate that women have little control over sexual or reproductive decisions, and beyond this, have little input regarding family income. However, many refugees find themselves in desperate need for additional income. Women with larger numbers of children are less able to participate in income generating activities. Family planning can put women back in control of their reproductive rights, and also allow them the opportunity to pursue employment outside of the home. Reproductive healthcare also ensures healthier children, which alleviates the need for women to stay home to care for the sick.
- 7. Waiting for healthcare in the Oecusse District on the border area between Timor-Leste and Indonesia. UN Photo/Martine Perret While support for these programs has increased since the 1990s, consistency and availability varies greatly by country, organization and setting. Especially during the emergency phase, reproductive health and family planning are not only in great need, but are also life saving programs. Much more needs to be done to improve services and to adequately meet the needs of all women who currently need, but do not have access to, modern reproductive health or family planning methods.
- 8. A mother and her children in Haiti. WRC Host countries should respect the rights of all refugees, inclusive of reproductive health and family planning. Laws, policies and access must be adequately addressed to allow programs to proceed. Donors should also continue funding programs to ensure quality services and equipment are provided, regardless of the duration of the crisis. Organizations must continue their advocacy, and better educate the communities they work with to encourage them to use modern methods to prevent illness and death. Organizations must also participate in better information sharing, and universal use of minimum standards in order to ensure quality education and care is provided in all emergencies and crises.