Skip to main content

Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Haviland, MJ; Shrestha, A; Decker, MR; Kohrt, BA; Kafle, HM; Lohani, S; Thapa, L; Surkan, PJ
Published in: Int J Gynaecol Obstet
May 2014

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how the social status of high-caste Nepali widows of reproductive age impacts their sexual and reproductive health care. METHODS: Twenty-one in-depth interviews and 1 focus group (n=6) were conducted between September and November 2012 in the Kathmandu, Kavre, and Chitwan districts of Nepal. Participants were members of Women for Human Rights, Single Women Group. Interviews and the focus group with widows followed a semi-structured interview guide designed to elicit information on sexual and reproductive health problems, knowledge about them, and barriers to care. Two researchers used inductive and deductive coding to analyze transcripts for themes using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: Widows reported facing substantial obstacles to accessing sexual and reproductive health care. Widows suspected of having sexual and reproductive health problems, or who discussed or tried to access these services, could be ostracized by their families and experience severe economic and psychological consequences. Additionally, widows feared discrimination, lack of confidentiality, and sexual harassment by male providers if their status was known. These barriers appeared to stem from the perception that sexual relationships are necessary for widows to require care for gynecologic problems. CONCLUSION: Widows expressed a need for sexual and reproductive health care and described cultural and systematic barriers to accessing this care; these barriers need to be addressed.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Int J Gynaecol Obstet

DOI

EISSN

1879-3479

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

125

Issue

2

Start / End Page

129 / 133

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Women's Health
  • Widowhood
  • Vulnerable Populations
  • Social Stigma
  • Social Class
  • Reproductive Health Services
  • Qualitative Research
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Haviland, M. J., Shrestha, A., Decker, M. R., Kohrt, B. A., Kafle, H. M., Lohani, S., … Surkan, P. J. (2014). Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 125(2), 129–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.10.021
Haviland, Miriam J., Abina Shrestha, Michele R. Decker, Brandon A. Kohrt, Hari Maya Kafle, Srijana Lohani, Lily Thapa, and Pamela J. Surkan. “Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal.Int J Gynaecol Obstet 125, no. 2 (May 2014): 129–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.10.021.
Haviland MJ, Shrestha A, Decker MR, Kohrt BA, Kafle HM, Lohani S, et al. Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014 May;125(2):129–33.
Haviland, Miriam J., et al. “Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal.Int J Gynaecol Obstet, vol. 125, no. 2, May 2014, pp. 129–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.10.021.
Haviland MJ, Shrestha A, Decker MR, Kohrt BA, Kafle HM, Lohani S, Thapa L, Surkan PJ. Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care among widows in Nepal. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014 May;125(2):129–133.

Published In

Int J Gynaecol Obstet

DOI

EISSN

1879-3479

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

125

Issue

2

Start / End Page

129 / 133

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Women's Health
  • Widowhood
  • Vulnerable Populations
  • Social Stigma
  • Social Class
  • Reproductive Health Services
  • Qualitative Research
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine