Citation

Perez B, Ramiro MT, Barrientos J. Front. Psychol. 2023; 14: e1253136.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Frontiers Research Foundation)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1253136

PMID

37614485

PMCID

PMC10443430

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health is a state of physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of sexual or reproductive disease. This definition implies the right to have a fulfilling and secure sex life. Also, the freedom to make decisions about the functions and processes related to the reproductive system, without risks, coercion, discrimination, and violence. However, conservative and traditional social norms that mark the expected and accepted behavior, limit full development in sexual and reproductive health to individual, cultural, and structural levels. This monograph aims to address sexual and reproductive health limitations due to traditional and conservative value trends. In addition, to address the consequences of these limitations for those who, due to their condition, choice, or personal situation, challenge the normative standards of their community.

Six of the eleven articles in this monograph address reproductive health issues. Corvino and D'Andrea, in a qualitative case study of health care workers in Italy, explore the care experiences of migrant women in childbirth who may come from conservative cultural backgrounds. The results show that members of their community can be coercive in their treatment. In addition, health care protocols that are not socioculturally relevant, generated in them an experience of health care as extremely medicalized, uncomfortable, and even abusive and violent. Xie et al. conducted a systematic review of the impact of the stigma of infertility on mental health and the quality of life of infertile women. They concluded that this stigma is common among women who suffer from infertility. Negative social interaction from the partner, family or community increases the susceptibility to anxiety and depression, suffering from feelings of inferiority, loneliness and guilt.

Language: en

Keywords

discrimination; violence; stigma; coercion; reproductive health; sexual health