Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) & SRHR

Table of Contents

What is Sexual Health?

WHO defines Sexual Health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity”.
Sexual health is fundamental to overall health and well-being of individuals, couples and families
Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relations to view it.
Sexual health related issues are comprehensive and covers both positive and negative consequences.
Positive consequences of good sexual health will lead to pleasurable sex and safe sexual relations.
On the other hand, negative consequences of sexual health will include conditions such as unintended pregnancy, sexual dysfunction, sexual violence, STI’s, harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) etc.

Factors that play a major role to achieve sexual health and well-being are:

Access to good quality information about sex and sexuality
Knowledge about the risk’s vulnerability to adverse consequences of unprotected sexual activity
Ability to access sexual health care
Environment that affirms and promotes sexual health.

WHO defines Reproductive Health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes”.
Reproductive health ensures that people are able to have satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often.
Reproductive health also includes the right of men and women to be informed and have access to safe, effective and affordable family planning of their choices.
It also incorporates the right to access appropriate reproductive health services.
Reproductive health is a crucial part of overall health and is central to human development which affects everybody.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to all aspects of sexuality and reproduction.
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is a combination of sexual health and reproductive health.
SRH includes several components such as approach to safe sex, family planning, desired family size, safe abortion, information and may more
SRH includes the issues of both men and women.
Sexual and reproductive health is not just about sex. It includes different things such as:
- Sexuality
- Changes during puberty
- Relationships
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Family planning
- Contraception
- Pregnancy

Family planning counseling, information, education, communication and services
Safe motherhood; education and services for healthy pregnancy, safe delivery and post-natal care
Care of new born
Prevention and management of complications of abortions
Preventions and management of RTIs, STIs, HIV and AIDS and other reproductive health conditions
Information, education, counseling on human sexuality, reproductive health and responsible parenthood for individuals, couples and adolescent
Prevention and management of sub-fertility
Life cycle issues including breast cancer, cancer of reproductive system and care of the elderly

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) includes following rights:

the rights to equality and non-discrimination
the right to be free from torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment
the right to privacy
the rights to the highest attainable standard of health (including sexual health) and social security
the right to marry and to found a family and enter into marriage with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, and to equality in and at the dissolution of marriage
the right to decide the number and spacing of one’s children
the rights to information, as well as education
the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and
the right to an effective remedy for violations of fundamental rights

Gender inequality (major challenge that brings the gap from access of services to the utilization of services)
Increasing rate of maternal morbidity and child morbidity
Gender based and other forms of violence
Child malnutrition
Increased risk of HIV and other STIs
Poverty
Culture, tradition and taboos
Lack of awareness
Ignorance to SRH issues
Misconceptions about family planning services
Inadequate policies and poor implementation regarding it

SRH is not a new program but rather a new approach that seeks to strengthen the existing safe motherhood, family planning, HIV/AIDS and STDs, child survival and nutrition program with holistic life cycle approach
Empowerment of women and involving women in various program
Promoting men’s participation in SRH and family planning
Assuring highest level of quality of care and services
Availability of effective methods of family planning
Emphasizing on advocacy on the concept of SRH
Strengthening linkage within the department of health services as well as between other sectors e.g., education, women and development, government
Review and update of IEC materials and training manuals regarding SRH
Promotion of research activities related to SRH
Tackling the cultural barriers and taboos related to SRH

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) – is a combination of four fields which are treated separately but they are all inherently intertwined
SRHR was first promulgated in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development(ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) includes issues like abortion, HIV and other STIs, maternal health and rights, contraceptive access, gender-based violence, discrimination and stigma, and more
SRHR address both the educational and service needs of young people while securing the reproductive rights of women and girls
SRHR supports equality, contributes to women, girls, and others who are discriminated against living the lives they want
SRHR also helps to build communities that are healthy, safe, just, and thriving
While talking about SRHR, it is important to consider those that are marginalized or vulnerable ones

Major components of SRHR are:

It improves gender equality and promoting women’s right
Lack of access to sexual and reproductive health care is a significant global health concern
SRHR gives freedom to make decision about sex and reproduction
SRHR also recognizes the needs of the LGBTQIA community
SRHR prevents from different forms of violence related to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues.
Investment on SRHR results in personal, social and economic benefits
Proper plans, policies and guidelines related to SRHR stabilize population growth rate and furthermore reduces poverty
SRHR promotes safe sex and helps to prevent STDs