The Silent Struggle of Syrian Women
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Experiences of Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19543653 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cemil Akdöner (0009-0008-6590-6598, Directorate of Health, corresponding author), Selim Kadıoğlu (0000-0002-5803-3708, Institute of Medical Ethics) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-16 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-21 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Sexual Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1931-7611 • E-ISSN: 1931-762X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19317611.2026.2671427 |
| OpenAlex | W7161948088 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 14 |
Objectives This study aims to explore the awareness of Syrian refugee women living in Turkey regarding their sexual and reproductive health rights, as well as the sociocultural and structural barriers they encounter in accessing these rights, using a qualitative research design based on in-depth interviews.Method A qualitative research design was employed using in-depth interviews. Twenty-six participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using the MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software.Results The findings indicate that most participants entered into arranged marriages, with family members playing a decisive role in marriage decisions. Sexuality was commonly perceived as a marital obligation. Participants generally expressed opposition to the termination of pregnancy and reported experiencing discrimination from healthcare personnel. In addition, language barriers were identified as a significant obstacle to accessing reproductive health services.Conclusions The findings suggest that participants have limited awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights, including the rights to life, freedom, equality, participation, bodily integrity, privacy, education and information, and the right to decide on marriage and childbearing. Moreover, they face substantial barriers in exercising these rights and have limited opportunities to claim or implement them
Human rights · Human sexuality · Refugee · Reproductive health · Reproductive rights · Sexual and reproductive health and rights · Syrian refugees · Education and experiences of immigrants and refugees · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Migration, Health and Trauma
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| Highly cited | No |
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