Targeting marginalized groups in sexual and reproductive care in Zambia: A literature review

Author: 
Shula Delphine Chikonde and Funom Theophilus Makama

Background: There are known marginalized groups in Zambia when it comes to sexual and reproductive health. These groups are, adolescents, women and girls seeking abortion, the LGBTQI community, sex workers, prisoners and persons living with disabilities. For health inequality and inequity to be achieved in Zambia, this issue must be addressed. Objectives: The aim of this review is to investigate the sexual and reproductive health accessibility among the marginalized groups in Zambia and to give recommendations of the gaps identified. This will be done by achieving two objectives. Firstly, how well the health system of Zambia has used the sexual and reproductive health approach to ensure of the access to reproductive health services among the marginalized groups will be investigated. Secondly, we will analyse the political and socio-cultural contexts of Zambia as determinants of the accessibility of reproductive health services among these marginalized groups. Conclusion: Accessibility among the marginalized groups is still far below expectations and hence the creation of strategies is recommended. Strategies such as the creation of new laws, interventions and education programmes are recommended. Collaboration with corresponding partners such as the marginalized groups themselves, the ministry of health of Zambia, United Nations related organizations and sister bodies, both international and local civil society groups and human rights commissions is recommended to ensure that the strategies proposed are implemented within the time frames stipulated in this review.

Paper No: 
5052