Sexual And Reproductive Health Services In Disaster And Humanitarian Crisis Situations: A Global Systematic Review

Abstract

Natural disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises have profound impacts on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), particularly among women and adolescents who face heightened vulnerabilities in accessing essential services and safeguarding reproductive rights. This study aimed to systematically review crosscountry evidence on challenges, strategies, and best practices in delivering SRH services during emergencies. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with the keywords “sexual and reproductive health (SRH)”, “adolescents”, “women”, “disaster”, and “humanitarian crisis”. From 1,276 identified records, 842 remained after duplicate removal. Screening and eligibility assessment yielded 20 studies for final synthesis, comprising qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, observational, and descriptive designs from Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and the Americas. Narrative synthesis was employed to identify overarching themes. Women and adolescents were disproportionately vulnerable during emergencies, encountering barriers such as limited health infrastructure, socio-cultural stigma, economic hardship, and weak policy coordination. Effective strategies included capacity building for health workers, community participation, gender-sensitive interventions, and integration of SRH with psychosocial and livelihood recovery efforts. Addressing SRH needs in crises requires comprehensive, gender-responsive, rights-based, and evidencedriven strategies. Strengthening global health policies and building resilient systems are crucial for equitable SRH service delivery.