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Cited by 57Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthReproductive Health and ContraceptionAdolescent Health and Behaviors

Iranian adolescent girls’ barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services: a qualitative study

Open access
Shariati, Mohammed, Babazadeh, Raheleh, Mousavi, Seyed Abbas, Najmabadi, Khadijeh Mirzaii·2014·Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care
DOI 10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100856
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Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period of transition from childhood to adulthood. In today's world, to pass through this period successfully it is necessary to have adequate information and knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. In Iran, it is crucial that special attention be paid to reproductive health services for adolescents, especially for girls. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of adolescent girls and key adults around the barriers to access of Iranian adolescent girls to SRH information and services. Methods: In this qualitative study, data were gathered through focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 247 adolescent girls and 71 key adults including mothers, teachers, health providers, governmental, nongovernmental and international managers of health programmes, health policymakers, sociologists and clergy in four Iranian cities. Data were coded and categorised using content analysis by MAXQDA10. Results: The main barriers identified were classified in four categories: (1) social and cultural barriers such as taboos; (2) structural and administrative barriers such as inappropriate structure of the health system; (3) political barriers such as lack of an adopted strategy by the government and (4) non-use of religious potential. Conclusions: Adolescent SRH in Iran should be firmly established as a priority for government leaders and policymakers. They should try to provide those services that are consistent with the community's cultural and religious values for adolescent girls.

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Crossref · 10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100856

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  • Cultural and social challenges, structural and administrative barriers, and unpreparedness of the health system to provide sexual and reproductive health services to vulnerable adolescents are barriers to successful implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents in Iran.

    “Cultural and social challenges, structural and administrative barriers, and unpreparedness of the health system to provide sexual and reproductive health services to vulnerable adolescents are considered as barriers to the successful implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents in Iran [14].”

    From Barriers to vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (2022) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Structural and implementation barriers and Discussion sections identify cultural barriers, administrative obstacles, and health providers’ unpreparedness as impediments to adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Iran. The claim extends these findings to vulnerable adolescents generally, whereas the paper says its qualitative study focused on in-school, unmarried adolescent girls and that generalisation is limited; it does not establish the findings for vulnerable adolescents as a broader group. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • In Iran government leaders and policymakers have not accepted adolescent health as a priority due to social, cultural and religious taboos; as a result, the health sector lacks a clear policy in this regard.

    “In Iran government leaders and Policymakers have not accepted adolescent health as a priority due to social, cultural and religious taboos. As a result, the health sector lacks a clear policy in this regard Shariati, Babazadeh et al., [14].”

    From Barriers to vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (2022) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Political barriers section reports little high-level commitment because of feared community opposition, and both that section and Structural and implementation barriers report no clear adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) policy. The claim broadens this to adolescent health generally and attributes the lack of priority to religious taboos; the Discussion instead says the clergymen interviewed agreed with sex education in principle. The copy provides no page numbers for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • In Iran, political barriers are among major barriers to the provision of reproductive health for adolescent girls.

    “In Iran, political barriers are also among other major barriers to the provision of reproductive health for adolescent girls.”

    From Barriers to vulnerable adolescent girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (2022) · cites this paper as [14]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Malekafzali H, Simani S, Amirkhani A, et al. Population control and reproductive health in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Arch Iranian Med 2004;7:247-250.

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Authors
Shariati, M., Babazadeh, R., Mousavi, S. A., & Najmabadi, K. M.
Affiliations
  • Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medicine Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (IR)
  • Golestan University of Medical Sciences (IR)
  • Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR)
Corresponding author
Babazadeh, Raheleh
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2014-09-02
Volume
40
Issue
4
Pages
270-275
ISSN
  • 1471-1893 (ISSN-L)
  • 2045-2098
DOI
10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100856
OpenAlex
W2112981403
Cited by
57
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
FWCI
3.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Shahroud University of Medical Sciences
  • Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
Keywords
adolescent girls, sexual and reproductive health, barriers to health services, health information access, socio-cultural barriers, taboos, health system structure, health policy, religion and health, Iran
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adult, Clergy, Female, Health Personnel, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Iran, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Middle Aged, Parents, Sexual Behavior, Socioeconomic Factors, Focus Groups, Reproductive Health Services, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, Reproductive Health

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