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Reproductive Health and Wellness

A Scoping Review of the Health of Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Women in Africa

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Armed conflict and internal displacement of persons create new health challenges for
women in Africa. To outline the research literature on this population, we conducted a review of
studies exploring the health of internally displaced persons (IDP) women in Africa. In collaboration
with a health research librarian and a review team, a search strategy was designed that identified 31
primary research studies with relevant evidence. Studies on the health of displaced women have
been conducted in South- Central Africa, including Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and in
Eastern, East central Africa, and Western Africa, including Eritrea, Uganda, and Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire,
and Nigeria. We identified violence, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and malaria
and as key health areas to explore, and observed that socioeconomic power shifts play a crucial
role in predisposing women to challenges in all four categories. Access to reproductive health
services was influenced by knowledge, geographical proximity to health services, spousal consent,
and affordability of care. As well, numerous factors affect the mental health of internally displaced
women in Africa: excessive care-giving responsibilities, lack of financial and family support to help
them cope, sustained experiences of violence, psychological distress, family dysfunction, and men’s
chronic alcoholism. National and regional governments must recommit to institutional restructuring
and improved funding allocation to culturally appropriate health interventions for displaced women.

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Publication Information
: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.,
Number of Pages
-
ISBN
-
Language
English
ISSN
17(4), 1280;
Subject(s)
Africa
Internally displaced women
Women's health
Scoping review
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Citation
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Type
Article
Part Of Series
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DOI Identifier
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