Migrant and refugee youth perspectives on sexual and reproductive health rights in Australia: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

Background: Migrant and refugee youth (MRY) in Australia face specific experiences that inform their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Migrant and refugee communities experience poorer health outcomes, have lower health service uptake, and possess culturally-informed understandings of sexual health. Additionally, youth are particularly vulnerable to poor sexual health. This paper details a study protocol for a systematic review of evidence on how Australian MRY understand and construct sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Methods: A systematic review of available literature will be conducted and reported as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search of nine databases – Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, APAIS, ProQuest, PsycInfo, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed – from January 2000 onwards will be undertaken. Hand searches for further relevant studies, including grey literature, will be conducted. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles against selection criteria. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) will be used to assess the quality of included studies. Thematic synthesis methods will be employed for data extraction and synthesis, supported by QSR NVivo 12.

Discussion: The proposed systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on how Australian migrant and refugee youth construct and understand sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the factors influencing these constructions. The synthesis will address existing gaps in knowledge regarding how migrant and refugee youth perceive their rights and make decisions related to sexual health. By focusing on Australian migrant and refugee youth, the review will be particularly relevant to the Asia-Pacific region. Insights gained from youth perspectives will provide crucial information to enhance both practice and policy aimed at supporting this population.