“It’s not just some cookie cutter that you have to fit into”: A qualitative study of immigrant women and girls’ needs, experiences, and barriers to sexual and reproductive health education in Canada

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education is important for all individuals. Immigrant women and girls frequently experience barriers to accessing SRH services and encounter discrimination in educational settings. Thus, it is critical to evaluate if the needs of immigrant women and girls are met with the current SRH education. In this study, three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with immigrant women ( n = 10) living across Canada, with the goal of identifying key barriers and areas of improvement for the SRH curriculum. Our FGDs revealed four main themes: (1) barriers to accessing SRH education, (2) limitations of mainstream SRH, (3) alternative means of accessing SRH information, and (4) features of more inclusive SRH education. Main barriers to effective and inclusive SRH education in this group included language and cultural aspects. Moreover, the current Canadian SRH curriculum was experienced by participants as Western-centric, heteronormative, and disconnected from other aspects of health and wellness. Participants emphasized the need for consideration of safety and accessibility when creating educational spaces and resources. We recommend that our findings be used by the respective Minister of Education in each province of Canada, in order to improve Canadian SRH educational programmes and to better meet the needs of diverse populations.