Impact on Reproductive Health Service Delivery in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Camps during Compounded Crises: A Qualitative Study

BHAVYA JOSHI, University of California, Berkeley
Ndola Prata, Bixby Center for Population Health and Sustainability, UC Berkeley

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported a 4000% increase in forcibly displaced individuals from 1951 to 2020. Crises and its impacts are increasing worldwide, and a growing number of populations are being impacted by multiple events of crises - compounded crises. Populations in compounded crises settings face additional challenges related to accessibility, availability and quality of health services, particularly for women’s reproductive health. The purpose of this study was to understand the facilitators and barriers in delivering reproductive health services in compounded crises settings using principles of community-based participatory research and human rights-based approach to health. Our research employs qualitative methodologies, including 4 focused group discussions with health workers (n=28) and 4 health facility assessments in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps in Kenya. Preliminary findings suggest challenges with battling birth before arrivals, shortages of human resources, stock-outs, use of outdated equipment, limited specialized services, low uptake of family planning and cervical cancer screening, no reporting of maternal mortality, and cultural rigidity in uptake of reproductive health services. We hope the insights from our findings could lead to improvements in reproductive health of refugees in Kenya and guide policy makers to plan for compounded crises management.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Migrant Populations and Refugees, Qualitative data/methods/approaches, Family Planning and Contraception

See extended abstract.