Next Article in Journal
Ecotoxicological and Microbiological Risk Assessment of Groundwater from Dimba Cave, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Previous Article in Journal
Prevalence and Determinants of Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 21
Issue 8
10.3390/ijerph21080961
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review

by
Angelina Bolyta Inthavong
and
Davoud Pourmarzi
*
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080961
Submission received: 29 April 2024 / Revised: 12 July 2024 / Accepted: 19 July 2024 / Published: 23 July 2024
(This article belongs to the Topic Migration, Health and Equity)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Background: Social, cultural, and structural determinants of health for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers can contribute towards poorer sexual health outcomes. People from migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker backgrounds usually use less mainstream sexual healthcare services and have lower levels of sexual health literacy compared with the destination countries’ general population. However, there is little collated knowledge about sexual health programs that have been implemented to improve sexual health among these groups. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Methods: This study was a scoping review in which Scopus and PubMed were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English since 2010 from countries similar to and including Australia such as New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries). The final search of databases was performed on 26 June 2023, and resultant studies were inputted into Endnote and Covidence systematic review software to remove duplicates before screening. The study utilised a qualitative approach using inductive thematic analysis of the content of the studies to extract and categorise the characteristics of the program. Results: A total of 3044 articles were screened and 20 were included for data extraction. The included studies were conducted in six countries (the United States of America, Australia, France, Italy, Denmark, and Belgium). The key characteristics of sexual health programs identified included consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, language support, peer education, self-directed learning, group learning, financial support, and outreach services. the programs had a combination of these characteristics to ensure that they can improve target population engagement with educational materials and decrease barriers to accessing sexual healthcare. Conclusion: Consideration of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers’ culture, language, socioeconomic characteristics, and access to information and services in the design of the sexual health programs may improve sexual health outcomes among these groups. However, further research is needed to assess the importance and implementation feasibility of the identified characteristics for sexual health programs in specific context.

1. Introduction

With the increasing threat of climate change and international tensions, the number of international migrants worldwide is set to increase from the current figure of 281 million [1]. Migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers make up a large percentage of Australia’s population, with 7.5 million (29.1%) of the population born overseas [2]. Australian migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are essential contributors to society and necessary for growth and development [3].
There is no formal definition of an international migrant, but most experts agree that ‘an international migrant is someone who changes his or her country of usual residence, irrespective of the reason for migration or legal status’ [4]. Refugees are generally defined as ‘persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection’ and asylum-seekers as ‘individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined’ [5]. Internally displaced people are defined as ‘persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee… and who have not crossed an internationally recognized state border’ [6].
The experience of migration is a key determinant of health, with migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers possessing poorer physical and mental health outcomes. A key determinant of poorer health for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers is their experiences of barriers to accessing health services in their destination country [7,8,9]. Depending on their migration or refugee status their ability to access health services, resources and information can differ [10,11]. For instance, due to financial circumstances and eligibility to access services, migrants are often able to afford more medical services in comparison to refugees and asylum seekers. Sexual health is one of the issues that this population may experience barriers to accessing services in their destination country [11,12].
Sexual health is a cornerstone to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, ‘good health and well-being’ through universal access to healthcare [13]. It is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples, and families and the social and economic development of communities and countries [14,15]. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines good sexual and reproductive health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to sexuality and the reproductive system [16]. All individuals have a right to bodily autonomy and access to services that support that right [17]. However, many populations face challenges in exercising their autonomy over their sexual health due to their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age and/or diverse physical and mental abilities [18,19]. Good sexual and reproductive health implies that people are able to have pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so free of coercion, discrimination, and violence [20].
Social, cultural, and structural determinants of health for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers contribute to poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes [21,22]. Social determinants range across age, gender, ethnicity, social class, employment, country of origin, destination country and migration status [23], whereas cultural determinants encompass cultural norms, religious norms, language barriers, health traditions, influence of family and community members, fear of discrimination, and stigmatisation by healthcare providers [24]. Structural determinants move beyond individuals, focusing rather on systems, policies, institutions, and regulations that establish legal and administrative barriers, stigma and discrimination, inadequate resourcing, financial barriers, and poorer living and working conditions [25]. These key determinants of health result in limited access to contraception and abortion services and increased risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive tract infections, female genital mutilation, and sexual and gender-based violence [12]. People from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds usually use less mainstream sexual health services and have lower levels of sexual health literacy compared with the destination countries’ general population [26]. As a result, effective and acceptable sexual health programs are integral in combatting determinants of poor sexual health for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. In improving the effectiveness and acceptability of such programs, it is important that characteristics of these populations are considered in the program designs and delivery.
There is little collated knowledge about the characteristics of sexual health programs that have been implemented to improve migrants’, refugees’ and asylum seekers’ sexual health [27]. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to describe the characteristics of the design and implementation of programs aimed at improving sexual health among people with migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker backgrounds and to provide recommendations for future program design and delivery in this area.

2. Methods

A scoping review methodology was designed based on the JBI methodology for scoping review guidelines [28] to answer the question: ‘What are the characteristics of sexual health programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers?’. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) criteria guided the scoping review [29]. The protocol for this review is available as a pre-print (https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13342.31045/2, accessed on 18 July 2024).

2.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

2.1.1. Participants

The scoping review investigated programs that focused on people with migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker backgrounds resettling in another country. The participants included in the search strategy and inclusion category terms for this scoping review were identified based on the definitions approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) [4,5]. In this review, programs focused on internally displaced people were not included [6].

2.1.2. Concept

Studies reporting sexual health programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers were used in this scoping review. The definition of sexual health used for the search strategy and inclusion criteria were obtained from the four sexual health program areas outlined in the WHO framework [30]. This review focused on two areas, including comprehensive education and information, support, and care and prevention and control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The sexual and gender-based violence prevention and sexual function and psychosexual counselling dimensions were not included in the scoping review eligibility criteria due to the limitations of the authors’ specialised areas [30].

2.1.3. Context

This review included studies from the destination countries of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. This review included studies from countries similar to and including Australia such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and European Union countries.

2.1.4. Types of Sources

Peer-reviewed articles published in English that used any quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method design were included. In addition, only articles published from 2010 were considered in the scoping review due to the relevancy of interventions and context of migration. However, review articles, grey literature, and opinion papers were not included.

2.1.5. Search Strategy

An initial search of two databases, PubMed and Scopus, was conducted to identify whether there were articles on the topic. The generated relevant articles were used to design a full search strategy by using text words found in the titles and abstracts, and the index terms used to describe the articles. The search was conducted using the keywords on PubMed and Scopus. A manual search of the reference lists of included papers in the full-text review was conducted to identify additional sources missed from the original search in order to conduct a thorough scoping review. The final search of databases was performed on 26 June 2023.

2.1.6. Study Selection

After the search of databases, published studies were inputted into Endnote and then the Covidence systematic review software to remove duplicates. Titles and abstracts were then screened in Covidence by one reviewer and assessed against inclusion criteria with the guidance of a second reviewer. The full text of relevant titles and abstracts were then assessed against inclusion criteria. Any reasons for excluding full-text papers were recorded and discussed with the second reviewer.

2.1.7. Data Extraction and Analysis

Data were extracted by one reviewer with the assistance of a second author. For each study, data related to the program and setting were extracted. Additional extracted data included year, country, targeted population, sexual health area, type of program, methods of evaluation, and general statements from authors about the outcomes of the program found in the conclusion section of the articles.
The study utilised a qualitative approach, using inductive thematic analysis of the content of the studies related to the description of the programs. In order to analyse the data, six phases of thematic analysis were used [31].
The reviewer was familiarised with the data by first reviewing each study by reading through the Introduction, Methods, Results, and other parts of the study thoroughly. Analysis of the data then took place by isolating the parts of the study detailing the program and rereading to enable deeper thinking and the generation of initial codes. The initial codes were then discussed with the second reviewer. The reviewers then worked in multiple rounds to categorise the codes and develop themes, then review them before defining and naming themes.

3. Results

The search strategy retrieved a total of 3044 studies. Once duplicates were removed, 3016 studies’ titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility. The full text of 125 studies was screened, of which 105 studies were excluded. This left 20 studies to be included in this review (Figure 1).

3.1. Descriptions of the Included Studies

The 20 included studies were conducted in six countries including the United States of America, Australia, France, Italy, Denmark, and Belgium. The majority of the studies were from the United States of America (n = 10) [32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41] and Australia (n = 5) [42,43,44,45]. Out of the two sexual health areas being investigated, the majority of the studies were conducted on STI and/or HIV prevention and control (n = 18) [32,33,34,35,36,38,39,40,41,42,43,45,46,47,48,49,50,51]. Only two of the included studies focused on comprehensive education and information, support, and care (n = 2) [37,44]. Most of the studies used the term ‘migrants’ without providing details if they also included refugees and asylum seekers (n = 17) [32,33,34,35,36,38,39,40,41,44,45,46,47,48,50,51]. Three studies reported programs specifically for refugees (n = 3) [37,42,43,49], and one reported on undocumented migrants (n = 1) [47] (Table 1).

3.2. Characteristics of the Programs

The included studies reported different characteristics of programs to improve engagement and access to sexual health education and services. These characteristics included consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, language support, peer education, self-directed learning, group learning, financial support, and outreach services. Most of these characteristics were interconnected and used together in most of the programs.

3.3. Consumer Consultation and Engagement

Seven studies reported using the approach of consumer consultation and engagement in program development [32,33,36,40,41,45,46]. Three studies conducted focus groups with people from the target population [32,36], and a mixture of community members and key community partners [40] to include the knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs of the community to aid in the development of effective and acceptable programs. Another three studies integrated participatory research frameworks into their study design, which often included a combination of researchers, relevant non-governmental organisations, healthcare professionals, and community members [41,45,46], whilst Chen’s study specifically collaborated with two mothers to develop their stories into materials for the program [33].

3.4. Cultural Appropriateness

Cultural appropriateness of the program was determined as an essential characteristic in seven studies due to its capacity to increase the acceptability and usability of programs [36,40,41,42,43,44,46]. Three studies were found to consult community members to ensure that the terminology in the programs was worded in a culturally sensitive manner and/or that language translations were correct [40,42,43]. Cultural values and traditions were integrated into the content of two programs with the aid of community consultation [36,41]. Three programs involved community members in checking that the programs’ technique and recruitment reflected the population of interest’s background, living conditions, and lifestyle [41,44,46].

3.5. Language Support

In five studies, some form of language support was provided to aid migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in engaging with the programs [32,34,36,43,45]. Two studies developed information in the participant’s preferred language [32,43]. Alternatively, three other studies chose to work with bilingual facilitators and educators who were able to provide language support [34,36,45,51].

3.6. Peer Education

Eight studies used peer education methods to improve the effectiveness and acceptability of their programs [33,34,36,38,39,40,42,48]. Most of this program involved peer educators who were bilingual or/and bicultural (from the same cultural background), which enabled participants to feel comfortable and to improve their engagement with the educational materials [34,36,38,39,42,48]. In addition, in some programs, these bilingual and bicultural peer educators also possessed previous experiences or qualifications in health and/or education [34,36,42]. Three studies reported the requirement of the peer educators to have additional connections with participants such as similar experiences of motherhood [33], being part of a sport team with participants [38], or having influential positions in the community [42]. The selection of peer educators in four studies possessed a gender focus where the recruitment involved only women, only men, or both men and women to facilitate separate workshops to prevent ‘gender awkwardness’ [34,36,38,42].

3.7. Self-Directed Learning

A key characteristic identified as important in five studies was self-directed learning methods used for educational programs [32,33,35,41,46]. Self-directed learning took various forms such as the availability of educational materials in DVD format [32] or online on websites that provided for the target groups [41]. Two studies also used story-telling videos that were available online for participants [33,35]. The study argued that self-directed learning was an effective element due to its ability to provide private and self-directed learning at a convenient time and place.

3.8. Group Learning

Six studies reported group learning as a characteristic of their educational programs [35,37,38,39,42,44]. In three studies, teaching involved sharing stories and role-playing [38,39,44]. In one of these studies, role-playing took place between groups and was elevated with dance [44]. All of these group learnings were face-to-face, with the exception of one that met virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic [35,37].

3.9. Financial Support

Nine studies reported the characteristics of financial support that were seen to increase participation [33,34,37,42,43,48,49,50,51]. Four studies compensated participants for their time [33,34,37,42] whether it was through renumerated money or gift cards ranging from $5 USD [34] to $200 AUD [42].
Another large portion of studies found that offering free-of-charge health assessments, testing, and treatment decreased barriers to accessing sexual healthcare [34,43,48,49,50,51]. Five studies provide free health assessments along with STI and HIV screening [34,43,48,49,50,51].

3.10. Outreach Services

Outreach services including testing and education were reported in four different programs [34,46,47,50]. Two programs involved the model of outreach testing at community locations which were convenient and popular for reaching target population groups [46,50]. Two other programs used the outreach testing model at places of work and stay to engage with specific groups of populations such as undocumented migrants and sex workers [34,47].

4. Discussion

The review identified different sexual health programs that targeted various populations of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers population. These programs used different strategies and included various characteristics to improve their outcomes. The key characteristics included consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, language support, peer education, self-directed learning, group learning, financial support, and outreach services.
The two most popular characteristics included in programs were financial support and peer education, which assisted in overcoming barriers to participation [33] and improved engagement with educational materials [38]. Other vital elements of sexual health programs such as consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, and language support all share the goal of increasing the acceptability and usability of programs [41]. These are integral elements for successful sexual health programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in order to address the social, cultural, and structural determinants of health that contribute towards poorer sexual health outcomes [21].
Characteristics such as consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, and language support were interlinked. To include these characteristics, the program designs involved consulting community members to ensure that cultural values and traditions were integrated into the programs [36,41]. Cultural appropriateness and language support also possessed similarities with community consultation, ensuring that language translations were correct and appropriate [40,42,43], and information was developed in the participants’ respective preferred languages in order to improve engagement with the programs [32,43]. Therefore, characteristics such as consumer consultation and engagement as well as language support all involved similar techniques and goals to create a culturally tailored and effective program for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Culturally tailored health programs have been previously identified as integral for the effective participation and engagement of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers as they are culturally respectful and person-centred, promote healthy lifestyles, increase family and community support, and increase knowledge [52]. This is especially important in the area of sexual health, which is considered a sensitive topic. Consumer consultation and engagement are effective in engaging migrants with similar sensitive topics such as drug misuse, migrants treated as research partners enabled the development of trust and rapport whilst also improving engagement with the program and outcomes by explaining how findings can be used to benefit the community directly [53]. Similar sensitive services such as mental health services have also been found that when health providers lacked cultural and spiritual awareness, they were not able to provide culturally appropriate information decreasing engagement with services [54].
Several studies also combined characteristics such as group learning, peer educators, and language support to deliver programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Studies utilised peer educators to conduct group learning. This enabled participants to feel comfortable and to improve their engagement with the educational materials [34,36,38,39,42,48]. Peer educators have long been recognised as an important resource for improving the continuity of care for new refugees and migrants due to their knowledge of the healthcare system and their role in the community [55]. Participants and peer educators are more likely to share similar values and might induce behaviour via ‘identification’ or ‘internalisation’ [56]. Furthermore, peer educators who can provide language support increase the availability of multilingual health materials overcoming language and communication barriers to increase the utilisation of health services and screening among migrants [57].
The characteristic financial support and outreach services were also combined in some studies with free-of-charge testing. Programs that offered services free of charge decreased barriers to accessing sexual healthcare [34,43,48,49,50,51]. Outreach testing similarly aimed to remove barriers to access by going to convenient and popular community locations to reach target population groups [46,50]. Therefore, both financial support and outreach testing elements being present in two studies improved access and engagement with sexual health services by overcoming common barriers [34,43,48,49,50,51]. This is corroborated by previous literature which suggested that challenges such as high costs need to be addressed in order for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to be able to access health services due to prioritisation of other needs [58]. Migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face structural disadvantages and vulnerabilities such as socioeconomic difficulties and as a result may not be able to attend workshops, as they will need to be away from work and not getting paid. However, this experience is heterogeneous, with each group experiencing different financial circumstances [59]. For instance, migrants are often able to afford more medical services in comparison to refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, the six included countries (Australia, the United States of America, France, Italy, Denmark, and Belgium) possess very different medical systems with varying levels of financial burden and eligibility criteria based on type of visa and migration status for accessing sexual health services [60,61]. As a result, free-of-charge outreach testing can remove structural barriers and increase engagement with health programs [34].

5. Strengths and Limitations

This scoping review provides a quality and comprehensive summary of the characteristics of sexual health programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It focused only on peer-reviewed studies from countries similar to the Australian context such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and European countries so that the findings of this scoping review were specific and applicable to possible policy recommendations. However, since studies not written in English were excluded this limited the availability of information from studies such as European countries possibly meaning results are more relevant for the United States of America and Australia which produced a significant proportion of this scoping review’s literature. In addition, since grey literature was not searched, this limits the scoping review’s findings. Furthermore, as some of the studies did not specify the type of migrants that participated, a weakness of the study is that it is difficult to identify if those findings were also relevant to refugees and asylum seekers. Most papers included were on HIV and HPV prevention and control, with not much on comprehensive sex education, which also limits the scoping review. In this review, we did not assess the quality of the studies as the aim was to extract the elements of the program not the assessment of the outcomes reported. Additionally, we did not report the outcome and relied on the conclusion reported in the articles.

6. Conclusions

Consumer consultation and engagement, cultural appropriateness, language support, peer education, self-directed learning, group learning, financial support, and outreach services were characteristics of sexual health programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Studies used multiple elements together with popular combinations involving consumer consultation and engagement, with cultural appropriateness, and language support to ensure they were culturally tailored. Another common mixture of characteristics integrated into programs was group learning, peer educators and language support to improve target population engagement with the educational materials. Financial support and outreach services elements also decreased barriers to accessing healthcare. The findings of this scoping review have identified common characteristics of sexual health programs that can act as possible policy or program recommendations to improve sexual health outcomes for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in countries with similar context to the included studies. The characteristics identified in this review can be implemented in programs to improve their outcomes. Further research is needed to assess the importance and implementation feasibility of the identified characteristics in specific context.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

This study was a literature review and did not require ethics approval.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Inthavong A, Pourmarzi D. Describing Sexual Health Interventions for Migrants and Refugees: A Scoping Review Protocol. 2023; Pre-print. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13342.31045/2. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378709377_Describing_Sexual_Health_Interventions_for_Migrants_and_Refugees_A_Scoping_Review_Protocol. (accessed on 18 July 2024).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

  1. McAuliffe, M.; Triandafyllidou, A. World Migration Report 2022; International Organization for Migration (IOM): Geneva, Switzerland, 2021. [Google Scholar]
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australia’s Population by Country of Birth Canberra: ABS 2021. Available online: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/australias-population-country-birth/latest-release (accessed on 10 May 2023).
  3. Wright, C.F.; Clibborn, S.; Piper, N.; Cini, N. Economic Migration and Australia in the 21st Century; Lowy Institute for International Policy: Sydney, Australia, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  4. United Nations. Definitions Internet: UN. 2023. Available online: https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/definitions (accessed on 23 May 2023).
  5. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Who Is Included in UNHCR Statistics? Internet: UNHCR. 2023. Available online: https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/methodology/definition/ (accessed on 23 May 2023).
  6. Deng, F.M. Guiding principles on internal displacement. Int. Migr. Rev. 1999, 33, 484–493. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. World Health Organization. Technical Brief: Addressing the Needs of Refugees and Migrants: An Inclusive Approach to Universal Health Coverage; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2023. [Google Scholar]
  8. Torlinska, J.; Albani, V.; Brown, H. Financial hardship and health in a refugee population in Australia: A longitudinal study. J. Migr. Health 2020, 1–2, 100030. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Mangrio, E.; Sjögren Forss, K. Refugees’ experiences of healthcare in the host country: A scoping review. BMC Health Serv. Res. 2017, 17, 814. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Khatri, R.B.; Assefa, Y. Access to health services among culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the Australian universal health care system: Issues and challenges. BMC Public Health 2022, 22, 880. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. World Health Organization. Refugee and Migrant Health: World Health Organization. 2022. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/refugee-and-migrant-health (accessed on 1 July 2023).
  12. Davidson, N.; Hammarberg, K.; Romero, L.; Fisher, J. Access to preventive sexual and reproductive health care for women from refugee-like backgrounds: A systematic review. BMC Public Health 2022, 22, 403. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. United Nations Population Fund. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: An Essential Element of Universal Health; United Nations Population Fund: Nairobi, Kenya, 2019. [Google Scholar]
  14. World Health Organization. Sexual Health: World Health Organization. 2023. Available online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_1 (accessed on 14 May 2023).
  15. Schnitzler, L.; Paulus, A.T.G.; Roberts, T.E.; Evers, S.M.A.A.; Jackson, L.J. Exploring the wider societal impacts of sexual health issues and interventions to build a framework for research and policy: A qualitative study based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts in OECD member countries. BMJ Open 2023, 13, e066663. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. World Health Organization. Defining Sexual Health: Report of a Technical Consultation on Sexual Health, 28–31 January 2002; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2006. [Google Scholar]
  17. Shalev, C. Rights to sexual and reproductive health: The ICPD and the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Health Hum. Rights 2000, 4, 38–66. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Branch UNPFGaHR. Technical Brief: Bodily Autonomy: A cornerstone for Achieving Gender Equality and Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; UNFPA: New York, NY, USA, 2021. [Google Scholar]
  19. Nowshin, N.A.-O.; Kapiriri, L.A.-O.; Davison, C.A.-O.; Harms, S.; Kwagala, B.A.-O.; Mutabazi, M.G.; Niec, A. Sexual and reproductive health and rights of “last mile” adolescents: A scoping review. Sex. Reprod. Health Matters 2022, 30, 2077283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Starrs, A.M.; Ezeh, A.C.; Barker, G.; Basu, A.; Bertrand, J.T.; Blum, R.; Coll-Seck, A.M.; Grover, A.; Laski, L.; Roa, M.; et al. Accelerate progress—Sexual and reproductive health and rights for all: Report of the Guttmacher– Lancet Commission. Lancet 2018, 391, 2642–2692. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Alarcão, V.; Stefanovska-Petkovska, M.; Virgolino, A.; Santos, O.; Costa, A. Intersections of Immigration and Sexual/Reproductive Health: An Umbrella Literature Review with a Focus on Health Equity. Soc. Sci. 2021, 10, 63. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Darebo, T.D.; Spigt, M.; Teklewold, B.; Badacho, A.S.; Mayer, N.; Teklewold, M. The sexual and reproductive healthcare challenges when dealing with female migrants and refugees in low and middle-income countries (a qualitative evidence synthesis). BMC Public Health 2024, 24, 520. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Loganathan, T.; Chan, Z.X.; De Smalen, A.W.; Pocock, N.S. Migrant Women’s Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5376. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Kaneoka, M.; Spence, W. The cultural context of sexual and reproductive health support: An exploration of sexual and reproductive health literacy among female asylum seekers and refugees in glasgow. Int. J. Migr. Health Soc. Care 2020, 16, 46–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Egli-Gany, D.; Aftab, W.; Hawkes, S.; Abu-Raddad, L.; Buse, K.; Rabbani, F.; Low, N.; Onarheim, K. The social and structural determinants of sexual and reproductive health and rights in migrants and refugees: A systematic review of reviews. East. Mediterr. Health J. 2021, 27, 1203–1213. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Botfield, J.R.; Newman, C.E.; Zwi, A.B. Engaging Migrant and Refugee Young People with Sexual Health Care: Does Generation Matter More Than Culture? Sex. Res. Soc. Policy 2018, 15, 398–408. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Larrea-Schiavon, S.; Vázquez-Quesada, L.M.; Bartlett, L.R.; Lam-Cervantes, N.; Sripad, P.; Vieitez, I.; Coutiño-Escamilla, L. Interventions to Improve the Reproductive Health of Undocumented Female Migrants and Refugees in Protracted Situations: A Systematic Review. Glob. Health: Sci. Pract. 2022, 10, e2100418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Peters, M.; Godfrey, C.; McInerney, P.; Munn, Z.; Trico, A.; Khalil, H. Chapter 11: Scoping Reviews Internet: JBI. 2020. Available online: https://synthesismanual.jbi.global (accessed on 24 May 2023).
  29. Tricco, A.C.; Lillie, E.; Zarin, W.; O’Brien, K.K.; Colquhoun, H.; Levac, D.; Moher, D.; Peters, M.D.J.; Horsley, T.; Weeks, L.; et al. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann. Intern. Med. 2018, 169, 467–473. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. World Health Organization. Sexual Health and Its Linkages to Reproductive Health: An Operational Approach; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2017. [Google Scholar]
  31. Braun, V.; Clarke, V. Thematic analysis. In APA Handbooks in Psychology; American Psychological Association: Washington, DC, USA, 2012; Volume 2, pp. 57–71. [Google Scholar]
  32. Valdez, A.; Stewart, S.L.; Tanjasari, S.P.; Levy, V.; Garza, A. Design and efficacy of a multilingual, multicultural HPV vaccine education intervention. J. Commun. Healthc. 2015, 8, 106–118. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Chia-Chen, A.; Sunny Kim, W.; Todd, M.; Larkey, L. A Digital Storytelling Intervention for Vietnamese American Mothers to Promote Their Children’s HPV Vaccination. Cancer Prev. Res. 2022, 15, 465–472. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Seña, A.C.; Hammer, J.P.; Wilson, K.; Zeveloff, A.; Gamble, J. Feasibility and Acceptability of Door-to-Door Rapid HIV Testing Among Latino Immigrants and Their HIV Risk Factors in North Carolina. AIDS Patient Care STDs 2010, 24, 165–173. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Kim, S.W.; Chen, A.C.-C.; Ou, L.; Larkey, L.; Todd, M.; Han, Y. Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Congruent Digital Storytelling Intervention in Vietnamese and Korean American Mothers of Human Papillomavirus–Vaccinated Children: Feasibility and Acceptability Study. JMIR Form. Res. 2023, 7, e45696. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Rios-Ellis, B.; Espinoza, L.; Bird, M.; Garcia, M.; D’anna, L.H.; Bellamy, L.; Scolari, R. Increasing HIV-related Knowledge, Communication, and Testing Intentions among Latinos: Protege tu Familia: Hazte la Prueba. J. Health Care Poor Underserved 2010, 21, 148–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Morrison-Beedy, D.; Wegener, R.; Ewart, A.; Ross, S.; Spitz, A. Reflections from Refugee Adolescent Girls on Participation in a US-Based Teen Sexual Health Promotion Project. J. Immigr. Minor. Health 2023, 25, 680–684. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Martinez, O.; Roth, A.M.; Kelle, G.; Downs, M.; Rhodes, S.D. Adaptation and Implementation of HoMBReS: A Community-Level, Evidence-Based HIV Behavioral Intervention for Heterosexual Latino Men in the Midwestern United States. AIDS Educ. Prev. 2014, 26, 68–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Montano, N.P.; Cianelli, R.; Villegas, N.; Conzalez-Guarda, R.; Williams, W.O.; De Tantillo, L. Evaluating a Culturally Tailored HIV Risk Reduction Intervention Among Hispanic Women Delivered in a Real-World Setting by Community Agency Personnel. Am. J. Health Promot. 2018, 33, 566–575. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Sánchez, J.; De La Rosa, M.; Serna, C.A. Project Salud: Efficacy of a community-based HIV prevention intervention for Hispanic migrant workers in south Florida. AIDS Educ. Prev. 2013, 25, 363–375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Lee, H.Y.; Xiong, S.; Sur, A.; Khang, T.; Vue, B.; Culhane-Pera, K.A.; Pergament, S.; Torres, M.B.; Koopmeiners, J.S.; Desai, J. Evaluating Human Papillomavirus eHealth in Hmong Adolescents to Promote Vaccinations: Pilot Feasibility Study. JMIR Form. Res. 2023, 7, e38388. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Drummond, P.D.; Mizan, A.; Brocx, K.; Wright, B. Using peer education to increase sexual health knowledge among West African refugees in Western Australia. Health Care Women Int. 2011, 32, 190–205. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Chan, C.; Fraser, D.; Vaccher, S.; Yeung, B.; Jin, F.; Amin, J.; Dharan, N.J.; Carr, A.; Ooi, C.; Vaughan, M.; et al. Overcoming barriers to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage in Australia among Medicare-ineligible people at risk of HIV: Results from the MI-EPIC clinical trial. Sex Health 2022, 18, 453–459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Roberts, M.; Lobo, R.; Sorenson, A. Evaluating the Sharing Stories youth theatre program: An interactive theatre and drama-based strategy for sexual health promotion among multicultural youth. Health Promot. J. Aust. 2017, 28, 30–36. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Prokopovich, K.; Phillipson, L.; West, L.; Stanoevska, B.; Street, J.; Braunack-Mayer, A. Using World Cafés to engage an Australian culturally and linguistically diverse community around human papillomavirus vaccination. Health Expect. 2023, 26, 1039–1051. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  46. Gosselin, A.; for the MAKASI Study Group; Carillon, S.; Coulibaly, K.; Ridde, V.; Taéron, C.; Kohou, V.; Zouménou, I.; Mbiribindi, R.; Derche, N.; et al. Participatory development and pilot testing of the Makasi intervention: A community-based outreach intervention to improve sub-Saharan and Caribbean immigrants’ empowerment in sexual health. BMC Public Health 2019, 19, 1646. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  47. Knudtzen, F.C.; Mørk, L.; Nielsen, V.N.; Astrup, B.S. Accessing vulnerable undocumented migrants through a healthcare clinic including a community outreach programme: A 12-year retrospective cohort study in Denmark. J. Travel Med. 2022, 29, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  48. Prestileo, T.; Di Marco, V.; Dino, O.; Sanfilippo, A.; Tutone, M.; Milesi, M.; Di Marco, L.; Picchio, C.A.; Craxì, A.; Lazarus, J.V. Effectiveness of a screening program for HBV, HCV, and HIV infections in African migrants to Sicily. Dig. Liver Dis. 2022, 54, 800–804. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Hoad, V.C.; Thambiran, A. Evaluating the chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening program in the Humanitarian Entrant Health Service, Western Australia. Med. J. Aust. 2012, 197, 47–49. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  50. Loos, J.; Manirankunda, L.; Platteau, T.; Albers, L.; Fransen, K.; Vermoesen, T.; Namanya, F.; Nöstlinger, C. Acceptability of a Community-Based Outreach HIV-Testing Intervention Using Oral Fluid Collection Devices and Web-Based HIV Test Result Collection Among Sub-Saharan African Migrants: A Mixed-Method Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2016, 2, e33. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Azadi, B.; Dollat, M.; Troia, G.; Chalal, S.; Pasquet-Cadre, A.; Yazdanpanah, Y. Voluntary HIV and Viral Hepatitis Testing in Newly Arrived Migrant Men in a First Reception Center in the North of Paris—A Qualitative Study on the Perception and Forms of Participation. J. Int. Migr. Integr. 2022, 23, 1599–1619. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Joo, J.Y.; Liu, M.F. Culturally tailored interventions for ethnic minorities: A scoping review. Nurs. Open 2020, 8, 2078–2090. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Garcia, V.; Gonzalez, L. Participatory Research Challenges in Drug Abuse Studies Among Transnational Mexican Migrants. Open Anthropol. J. 2011, 4, 3–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Wamwayi, M.O.; Cope, V.; Murray, M. Service gaps related to culturally appropriate mental health care for African immigrants. Int. J. Ment. Health Nurs. 2019, 28, 1113–1121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Brandenberger, J.; Tylleskär, T.; Sontag, K.; Peterhans, B.; Ritz, N. A systematic literature review of reported challenges in health care delivery to migrants and refugees in high-income countries-the 3C model. BMC Public Health 2019, 19, 755. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Chen, W.; Li, T.; Zou, G.; Renzaho, A.M.; Li, X.; Shi, L.; Ling, L. Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote the Use of Respiratory Protective Equipment among Migrant Workers Exposed to Organic Solvents in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3187. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Javanparast, S.; Naqvi, S.K.A.; Mwanri, L. Health service access and utilisation amongst culturally and linguistically diverse populations in regional South Australia: A qualitative study. Rural. Remote Health 2020, 20, 5694. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Fauk, N.K.; Ziersch, A.; Gesesew, H.; Ward, P.; Green, E.; Oudih, E.; Tahir, R.; Mwanri, L. Migrants and Service Providers’ Perspectives of Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in South Australia: A Case of African Migrants with a Refugee Background in South Australia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 8906. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Renzaho, A.; Polonsky, M.; Mellor, D.; Cyril, S. Addressing migration-related social and health inequalities in Australia: Call for research funding priorities to recognise the needs of migrant populations. Aust. Health Rev. 2016, 40, 3–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Besera, G.; Vu, M.; Dogbe, A.; Ta, D.; Escoffery, C.; Copeland, H.; Hall, K.S. “My culture doesn’t 100% like these kinds of services, but you decide what to do”: Female refugees’ experiences with sexual and reproductive healthcare in the Southeastern U.S. PEC Innov. 2023, 2, 100172. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  61. Spike, E.A.; Smith, M.M.; Harris, M.F. Access to primary health care services by community-based asylum seekers. Med. J. Aust. 2011, 195, 188–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Ijerph 21 00961 g001
Figure 1. PRISMA diagram of scoping review on programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Figure 1. PRISMA diagram of scoping review on programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Ijerph 21 00961 g001
Table 1. Descriptions of the included studies in the scoping review on programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Table 1. Descriptions of the included studies in the scoping review on programs for improving sexual health among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
StudyCountryPopulationSexual Health AreaType of ProgramMethods of EvaluationConclusions
Dianne Morrison-Beedy et al., 2023
[37]		United StatesRefugee adolescent girls 15–17 years old from Asia, Africa, and Middle EastComprehensive education and information, support, and careVirtual sexual health promotion programInterviewsGirls felt comfortable sharing and learning in groups.
Meagan Roberts et al., 2017 [44]Australia Southeast Asian, African, and Middle Eastern migrantsComprehensive education and information, support, and careSharing stories, youth theatre programPre-evaluation and post-evaluation scenariosYouth drama workshops improved sexual health knowledge.
Armando Valdez et al., 2015 [32]United StatesLatino and Korean–American parentsSTI prevention and controlCulturally and linguistically appropriate HPV vaccine education delivered using DVDsPre- and post-test using randomized controlled designThe intervention improved vaccine uptake among migrants.
Peter D Drummond et al., 2011
[42]		Australia West African refugeesHIV and STI prevention and controlPeer-educator led workshop to increase sexual health knowledgePre-intervention and post-intervention questionnairesImproved discussion surrounding sexual health topics generally considered taboo.
Angela Chia-Chen Chen et al., 2022
[33]		United StatesVietnamese–American mothersSTI prevention and controlDigital storytelling program for improving mothers’ intention to vaccinate their children against HPV.Pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnairesIncreased HPV vaccinations for children.
Anne Gosselin et al., 2019
[46]		FranceSub-Saharan African or non-French–Caribbean immigrantsHIV and STI prevention and controlOutreach rapid HIV testing and personalised sessions on sexual health using motivational interviewing techniques. Pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnairesImproved immigrants’ empowerment in sexual health.
Fredrikke C Knudtzen et al., 2022
[47]		DenmarkUndocumented migrantsSTI prevention and controlCommunity outreach program Evaluation method not describedOutreach programs were able to reach increased numbers of patients.
Tullio Prestileo et al., 2021 [48]ItalyNew arrival African migrantsHIV and STI prevention and controlScreening program for HBV, HCV, and HIVEvaluation method not describedInfectious disease screening programs for migrants were effective.
Kathleen Prokopovich et al., 2023 [45]AustraliaMacedonian migrantsSTI prevention and controlSchool-based HPV vaccinationEvaluation method not described Public trust in schools increased vaccinations for migrant communities.
Arlene C. Seña et al., 2010 [34]United StatesLatino immigrantsHIV and STI prevention and controlDoor-to-door rapid HIV testing Pre-intervention survey onlyDoor-to-door rapid HIV testing was feasible and accepted by migrants.
Curtis Chan et al., 2022
[43]		AustraliaOverseas-born adults at risk of acquiring HIVHIV and STI prevention and controlProgram providing free PrEPSurvey at enrolment Access to free PrEP and translated information for Medicare-ineligible people created high adherence to PrEP.
Sunny Wonsun Kim et al., 2023
[35]		United StatesVietnamese and Korean–American mothersSTI prevention and controlDigital storytelling workshops for child HPV vaccination Pre-intervention and post-intervention surveysThe workshop was a feasible and accepted method of increasing HPV vaccination.
Veronica C Hoad & Aesen Thambiran, 2012
[49]		AustraliaRefugeesSTI prevention and controlChlamydia and Gonorrhoea screening Evaluation method not describedScreening was most useful for sexually active refugees up to the age of 39.
Britt Rios-Ellis et al., 2010 [36]United StatesLatino HIV and STI prevention and controlCulturally and linguistically relevant HIV prevention curriculum delivered at community location sessionsPre-intervention and post-intervention survey Increased knowledge of sexual health and intention to practice safer sex.
Jasna Loos et al., 2016
[50]		BelgiumSub-Saharan African migrantsHIV and STI prevention and controlCommunity-based outreach HIV-testingObservations and informal interviewsOutreach HIV testing was feasible and reduced barriers to uptake of testing.
Bahar Azadi et al., 2021
[51]		FranceMigrant menHIV and STI prevention and controlVoluntary HIV and hepatitis testing Interviews Most participants were satisfied with screening.
Omar Martinez et al., 2014
[38]		United StatesLatino menHIV and STI prevention and controlCommunity-level social network: health education, small group didactic sessions and no-cost screening for HIV and STIsPost-intervention evaluation moduleIncreased sexual health knowledge among migrants.
Nilda Peragallo Montano et al., 2018
[39]		United StatesHispanic women HIV and STI prevention and controlCulturally tailored intervention: small groupsPre-intervention and post-intervention survey Reduced HIV/STI risk-related behaviour.
Jesús Sánchez et al., 2013
[40]		United StatesHispanic migrant workersHIV and STI prevention and controlAdapted stage-enhanced motivational interviewingPre-intervention and post-intervention surveys Increased HIV-preventative behaviours.
Hee Yun Lee et al., 2023
[41]		United StatesHmong–AmericansSTI prevention and controlWeb-based eHealth educational websitePre-intervention and post-intervention surveysImproved knowledge of and uptake of HPV vaccinations.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Inthavong, A.B.; Pourmarzi, D. Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 961. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080961

AMA Style

Inthavong AB, Pourmarzi D. Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(8):961. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080961

Chicago/Turabian Style

Inthavong, Angelina Bolyta, and Davoud Pourmarzi. 2024. "Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21, no. 8: 961. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080961

APA Style

Inthavong, A. B., & Pourmarzi, D. (2024). Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 961. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080961

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop