Cultural roadblocks on women’s reproductive health rights: a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Women disproportionately confront disparate barriers in accessing reproductive health services across the world. We used qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) to explore cultural barriers that women face in reproductive health decision making and access to reproductive health services in developing countries of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings indicated that experience with domestic violence, son preference, and lack of financial independence were some of the crucial obstacles that women face to enjoy reproductive rights. Findings pointed to the need for targeted sexual and reproductive health educational policies and training for all in order to reduce gender based health disparities.