Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries
Ravindran, T. K. Sundari and Govender, Veloshnee, (2020). Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(2), 1-22
Document type:
Article
Collection:
-
Sub-type Journal article Author Ravindran, T. K. Sundari
Govender, VeloshneeTitle Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries Appearing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters Volume 28 Issue No. 2 Publication Date 2020 Place of Publication Abingdon, UK Publisher Taylor & Francis Start page 1 End page 22 Language eng Abstract If universal health coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the population being met, what then is the current situation vis-à-vis universal coverage of SRH services, and the extent to which SRH services have been prioritised in national UHC plans and processes? This was the central question that guided this critical review of more than 200 publications between 2010 and 2019. The findings are the following. The Essential Package of Healthcare Services (EPHS) across many countries excludes several critical SRH services (e.g. safe abortion services, reproductive cancers) that are already poorly available. Inadequate international and domestic public funding of SRH services contributes to a sustained burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and inequities in access to SRH services. Policy and legal barriers, restrictive gender norms and gender-based inequalities challenge the delivery and access to quality SRH services. The evidence is mixed as to whether an expanded role and scope of the private sector improves availability and access to services of underserved populations. As momentum gathers towards SRH and UHC, the following actions are necessary and urgent. Advocacy for greater priority for SRH in government EPHS and health budgets aligned with SRH and UHC goals is needed. Implementation of stable and sustained financing mechanisms that would reduce the proportion of SRH-financing from OOPE is a priority. Evidence, moving from descriptive towards explanatory studies which provide insights into the “hows” and “whys” of processes and pathways are essential for guiding policy and programme actions. Keyword Universal health coverage
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Health financing
Access
GenderCopyright Holder The Authors Copyright Year 2020 Copyright type All rights reserved DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1779632 -
Citation counts Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 256 Abstract Views - Detailed Statistics Created: Mon, 03 Aug 2020, 15:05:36 JST by Nor Sazlin Said on behalf of UNU IIGH