ijerph-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2024 | Viewed by 1212

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA
Interests: maternal and child health and nutrition; childhood obesity prevention; minority health; health disparities; community-based health promotion research; global health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal health is the health of the gestational parent during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Each stage has important short- and long-term health consequences to the gestational parent and the newborn. Maternal health is critical to the health and well-being of the gestational parent, children, families, and communities. Despite important progress made over recent decades, pervasive inequalities that affect health outcomes remain, with minoritized populations being disproportionally affected. Addressing inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and right and gender is fundamental to safeguarding maternal health. Ensuring maternal physical, mental, and social well-being is central to the advancing health equity. Access to adequate, timely, and quality maternal healthcare services is crucial to decrease disparities in maternal and child health outcomes. 

This Special Issue will focus on current psychological, socio-cultural, environmental, and structural factors that influence maternal health and innovative strategies to prevent and address multiple factors affecting maternal health across the globe. We are interested in topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Multi-level, factors influencing maternal health; with special interest in the social and structural determinants of health inequities in maternal health;
  • Innovative interventions;
  • Preventative maternal health care in various settings (e.g., home, schools, community, etc.);
  • Environmental, organizational, and/or policy changes designed to promote maternal health and equity.

Researchers are invited to contribute novel work to be considered for publication in this Special Issue. Submissions should include original articles, critical reviews (systematic reviews or meta-analyses), brief reports, or short communications. There are no restrictions on study design and methodology (i.e., secondary analyses, cross-sectional or longitudinal design, intervention studies, qualitative studies, etc.). Articles that focus on either the prevention or management of prevalent women’s reproductive and sexual health and reproductive health care, reproductive rights and mental health across the globe are welcomed. Additionally, articles that focus on underrepresented or disadvantaged populations are encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Ana Cristina Lindsay
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • maternal
  • pregnancy
  • minority
  • reproductive rights
  • gender
  • immigrant
  • structural factors
  • social and cultural factors
  • environment
  • interventions
  • health promotion
  • health disparities
  • health equity
  • health policy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

21 pages, 894 KiB  
Review
Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Needs of Refugee Women Exposed to Gender-Based Violence: The Case for Trauma-Informed Care in Resettlement Contexts
by Cherra M. Mathis, Jordan J. Steiner, Andrea Kappas Mazzio, Meredith Bagwell-Gray, Karin Wachter, Crista Johnson-Agbakwu, Jill Messing and Jeanne Nizigiyimana
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081046 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 712
Abstract
This paper assesses literature regarding the sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) needs of resettled refugee women who experienced gender-based violence (GBV) and trauma-informed care (TIC) principles utilized among SRH service providers. A systematic search identified relevant studies published between 2000 and 2021; no [...] Read more.
This paper assesses literature regarding the sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) needs of resettled refugee women who experienced gender-based violence (GBV) and trauma-informed care (TIC) principles utilized among SRH service providers. A systematic search identified relevant studies published between 2000 and 2021; no articles found reflected both SRH and TIC principles among refugee women. The search was therefore separated into two aims: to review the literature about SRH needs for refugee women in resettlement countries who experienced GBV (Aim 1) and to examine the use of TIC principles in SRH care among women who experienced GBV (Aim 2). Thematic analysis of the articles identified key themes. Twenty-six articles were included in the analysis across both aims (Aim 1 = 8, Aim 2 = 18). Aim 1 articles shared three factors shaping the SRH needs of resettled refugee women: the centrality of violence and trauma; structural barriers to SRH care; and actions, practices, and resources for service providers. Aim 2 articles illustrated seven key principles of TIC used in SRH service provision, such as empowerment; trauma-specific services and integrated care; connection; safety; collaboration; identity culture and context; and trustworthiness. Resettled refugee women’s experiences of violence necessitate trauma-informed SRH health care. While there is limited peer-reviewed literature regarding TIC-SRH care for refugee women, the findings regarding the SRH needs of refugee women and the findings regarding the implementation of TIC in SRH collectively frame recommendations for how SRH can be infused with TIC. An example from practice, in the form of the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic, is included as an exemplar of TIC SRH principles in action for the health of resettled refugee women who have survived gendered violence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop