Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH)
Including the Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights in health emergencies

WHO defines health emergencies as sudden-onset events due to naturally occurring or man-made hazards, or gradually deteriorating situations where the risk to public health steadily increases over time. Countries around the world are under constant threat from infectious diseases and conflict, and also increasingly face threats related to natural disasters. 

WHO estimates that every year more than 172 million people are affected by conflict and, as of December 2017, an estimated 135 million people required humanitarian assistance. Moreover, an estimated 100 epidemic-prone events occur each year. An estimated 32 million women and girls of reproductive age live in emergency situations, all of whom require SRHR information and services. The critical importance of scientific evidence to guide planning and action to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls, as well as men and boys, living in health emergencies cannot be overstated.

Updated E-learning on clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence survivors

Screenshot of the eLearning platform

Presentation (includes link to access the eLearning)

Listen to the recordings of the webinar (December 2021)

Our work

Publications

All →
Clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence in emergencies: a training curriculum for health workers, facilitator guide

The clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence in emergencies (CMRIPV) training curriculum is designed to equip health workers with the...

Working for a brighter, healthier future

WHO has progressively strengthened its work for adolescent health, growing its portfolio of research, norms and standards, country support and advocacy,...

HRP at 50: sexual and reproductive health and rights in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response

Since 1972, the UN cosponsored special programme, HRP, has pursued a vision of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. This is the...

Effects of COVID-19 on essential health services

Journal articles

2025

Logie CH, Loutet M, MacKenzie F, et al. Experiences of drought, heavy rains, and flooding and linkages with refugee youth sexual and reproductive health in a humanitarian setting in Uganda: qualitative insights. Glob Public Health. 2025;20(1):2503863. doi:10.1080/17441692.2025.2503863

2024

Joshi B N, Bhavya M K, Prusty R K, et al. Knowledge, perception and practices adapted during COVID-19: A qualitative study in a district in Maharashtra, IndiaThe Journal of community health management : JCHM, 28 Sep 2024, Vol. 11, Issue 3, pages 157 - 164.

2023

Sexual and reproductive health of migrants from Venezuela and Central AmericaRevista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health (RPSP/PAJPH), 3 March 2023.

2022

Habib N, Hughes MD, Broutet N, et al. Statistical methodologies for evaluation of the rate of persistence of Ebola virus in semen of male survivors in Sierra Leone. PLoS One. 2022;17(10):e0274755. Published 2022 Oct 5. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274755

Me Abu-Rmeileh N, Wahdan Y, Mehrtash H, Hamad KA, Awad A, Tunçalp Ó¦. Exploring women's experiences during childbirth in health facilities during COVID-19 pandemic in occupied palestinian territory: a cross-sectional community survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):957. Published 2022 Dec 22. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-05265-y

Kobeissi L, Pyone T, Moran AC, Strong KL, Say L. Scaling up a monitoring and evaluation framework for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services and outcomes in humanitarian settings: A global initiative [published correction appears in Dialogues Health. 2023 Sep 26;4:100154. doi: 10.1016/j.dialog.2023.100154.]. Dialogues Health. 2022;1:100075. doi:10.1016/j.dialog.2022.100075

Cecatti JG, Bahamondes L, Ali M, et al. Issues related to pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and abortion in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a WHO qualitative study protocol. BMJ Open. 2022;12(10):e063317. Published 2022 Oct 6. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063317

Gómez Ponce de Leon R, Bahamondes MV, Hellwig F, et al. Potential of LARC to recover loss in satisfied demand for modern contraception after the COVID-19 pandemic: a case scenario analysis of Brazil and Mexico. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2022;46:e41. Published 2022 Jun 3. doi:10.26633/RPSP.2022.41

Kouanda S, Nahyuha Chomi E, Kim C, et al. Health systems analysis and evaluation of the barriers to availability, utilisation and readiness of sexual and reproductive health services in COVID-19-affected areas: a WHO mixed-methods study protocol. BMJ Open. 2022;12(6):e057810. Published 2022 Jun 1. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057810

Bertagnolio S, Thwin SS, Silva R, et al. Clinical features of, and risk factors for, severe or fatal COVID-19 among people living with HIV admitted to hospital: analysis of data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform of COVID-19. Lancet HIV. 2022;9(7):e486-e495. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(22)00097-2

2021

Brizuela V, Kapilashrami A, Bonet M, et al. Sexual and reproductive health and rights of migrants: strengthening regional research capacity. Bull World Health Organ. 2021;99(5):402-404. doi:10.2471/BLT.20.270447

Update to living systematic review on covid-19 in pregnancy. BMJ. 2021;372:n615. Published 2021 Mar 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.n615

Thorson AE, Deen GF, Bernstein KT, et al. Persistence of Ebola virus in semen among Ebola virus disease survivors in Sierra Leone: A cohort study of frequency, duration, and risk factors. PLoS Med. 2021;18(2):e1003273. Published 2021 Feb 10. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1003273

2020

Desrosiers A, Betancourt T, Kergoat Y, Servilli C, Say L, Kobeissi L. A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):666. Published 2020 May 12. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08818-y

Schaaf M, Boydell V, Sheff MC, Kay C, Torabi F, Khosla R. Accountability strategies for sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in humanitarian settings: a scoping review. Confl Health. 2020;14:18. Published 2020 Apr 7. doi:10.1186/s13031-020-00264-2

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