Reproductive health in the recent disasters of Iran: a management perspective

Abstract

BackgroundNatural disasters represent critical threats to the health, safety, and well-being of a community—including reproductive health, which has been neglected in disaster-stricken regions. The current study was undertaken to explore administrative issues related to post-disaster reproductive health systems in Iran.MethodsA qualitative approach using in-depth unstructured interviews was applied to explore the administrative issues of reproductive health systems in the affected regions. A total of 22 participants were interviewed using the purposeful sampling method. Data were collected in three provinces: East Azerbaijan, Bushehr, and Mazandaran. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using the conventional content analysis.ResultsSix categories of management issues of reproductive health in disasters were extracted from data. These categories were: ignoring cultural factors, lack of planning, lack of training, insufficient data collection, ignoring male reproductive health, and lack of monitoring systems.ConclusionDifferent challenges to reproductive health management that emerged from the research should be considered and included in reproductive health plans and policies in disaster-affected regions in Iran. Involving community in all processes of providing reproductive health services, from planning to monitoring, is highly suggested.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Function: A Systematic Review

“…The results of previous studies showed that dealing with major crises can lead to reduced access to health services and facilities, exposure to sexual violence and poverty, and vulnerability to poor reproductive and sexual health outcomes. 37,38 The results of the 2020 study by Gebrewahd, et al showed that in the study population, the prevalence of violence against women by their sexual partner during the COVID-19 pandemic was 26.6%, among which psychological violence had the highest percentage (13.3%), and then physical (8.3%) and sexual (5.3%) violence were, respectively, the next ranks. 20 It appears that factors such as isolation and confinement, limited access to help resources to protect individuals from violence, which has increased pressure on and control of marital relationships as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, are significant factors in the persistence of violence.…”

Challenges in Maternal and Child Health Services Delivery and Access during Pandemics or Public Health Disasters in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

“…Many pregnant women experienced abdominal pain, genital bleeding, urinary tract infections, and stress. However, they did not receive any medical attention [ 22 , 32 , 34 ]. Several studies documented the lack of transport services or the long way to walk to reach the facilities due to poor road connectivity and the demand for higher transport charges.…”

“…Another factor identified was the lack of access to specialists and diagnostic facilities in healthcare facilities. The studies reported that during the disaster, healthcare facilities were either damaged or closed [ 16 , 19 , 22 , 32 , 34 ]. Moreover, even traditional birth attendants were scarcely available to provide services [ 16 , 34 ].…”

“…The studies reported that during the disaster, healthcare facilities were either damaged or closed [ 16 , 19 , 22 , 32 , 34 ]. Moreover, even traditional birth attendants were scarcely available to provide services [ 16 , 34 ].…”

Is the health system in the Islamic Republic of Iran ready to deal with the effects of drought?

“…One of the first field studies on reproductive health management in regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran affected by drought found that several factors affected reproductive health management. These factors were: disregard of cultural issues, lack of training of health care workers and drought-affected people, lack of planning, insufficient data collection, neglect of male reproductive health, and lack of a monitoring system on the planning for and response to the drought (17). On the other hand, health care providers such as nurses and vulnerable people, despite their important role in disaster management and planning, had little awareness about participation in the response phase of the disaster, were less prepared and performed poorly in this phase (18).…”