Maternal and Reproductive Health Challenges among Afghan Refugee Women in Urban and Rural Settlements of Balochistan
Keywords:
Afghan Refugee women, Maternal, Reproduction, Urban and Rural, Health challenges, BalochistanAbstract
This study examines the maternal and reproductive health challenges faced by Afghan refugee women in both settings of urban and rural regions of Balochistan, Pakistan. Despite extensive research on refugee health, little attention has been paid to the gender-specific challenges that impact Afghan refugee women`s access to healthcare in displacement settings. Within the framework of refugee and public health studies, the study examines how socio-cultural norms, financial restraints, and economic limitations combine to impact healthcare results. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge of the gendered characteristic of refugee, despite the fact that previous studies have shown overall health disparities among them. Using qualitative method, purposive sampling were adopted based on marital status and number of children of Afghan refugee women. Through semi-structure interview, data were collected from 20 Afghan refugee women living in the rural area of Saranan and the urban area of Ghosabad. The results show that health problems among Afghan refugee women are caused by social marginalization, cultural injustice, inadequate institutional support, and limited access to healthcare. According to the study, inclusive, gender-sensitive policies that address systemic discrimination and promote equitable healthcare delivery are essential to improving the health of Afghan refugee women.
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