Barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services for migrant women in the Eastern Morocco

Abstract

Migrant women face barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Administrative, economic, cultural, linguistic, and informational access inequalities exacerbate these barriers. This research analyzes these barriers from the perspective of migrant women in Eastern Morocco.

A quantitative analytical study was used to administer a questionnaire to 108 migrant women in Oujda and Nador (from September to November 2024). To analyze the barriers to access, χ² (chi-square) tests and logistic regression models were used for this purpose.

Lack of awareness of the existence and free provision of SRH services in Eastern Morocco, combined with a low level of education, constitutes a barrier to accessing these services (p < 0,001). Irregular migratory status significantly reduces the probability of accessing SRH services. The absence or low monthly income constitutes an economic barrier. While language and culture did not show a significant association with access to sexual and reproductive health services.

This research highlights the need for a systemic review of SRH services. This review must integrate the consideration of administrative and financial barriers encountered by these women and prioritize the development of information and communication strategies regarding SRH and its services.