Sexual health and gender based violence needs of refugees and asylum seekers

Meyrick, Jane

Abstract

Introduction

An overview of sexual health and gender-based violence (GBV) for refugees and asylum seekers (R+AS) in the UK will be presented. Sparse data and large research gaps allow only a glimpse of the context of global movement and the experience of refugee & asylum seekers but it highlights unmet sexual health/violence needs of this highly marginalised group. Understanding the drive to leave, the risks during flight and the UK hostile environment underpin issues of HIV/STI acquisition, unwanted pregnancy and trauma. Barriers to attendance at sexual health/SARC services include systemic issues around immigration policy such as ‘No recourse to public funds’, data sharing demands of the Home Office, language and translation issues, cultural competency of staff and disruption of treatment access through dispersal and detention.


Methods

An overview of the literature informs the presentation of existing evidence around migrant sexual health and gender-based violence needs. Round table discussions with regional R+AS agencies (over 100) in the SW informed key suggestions for next steps

Results and Discussion
Recommendations for sexual health and gender-based violence support for Refugee and Asylum Seekers will be presented across 5 areas. Engaging R+AS, what professionals and volunteers need to do, signposting to services, practice principles of hearing and listening and finally raising the issue of trafficking.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: BASHH Annual Conference 2024
• Start Date: Jun 17, 2024
• End Date: Jun 19, 2024
• Acceptance Date: Apr 25, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of STD & AIDS
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624241254949
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13443290
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09564624241254949