Abortion experiences of women and girls living in Bidibidi refugee settlement: Implications for frontline health care workers

Displaced people are at greater risk of experiencing gender-based violence, such as rape, child marriage, or being trafficked for sexual exploitation. It is therefore critical for refugees and internally displaced individuals to have access to comprehensive health care, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services such as contraception and abortion. In most humanitarian settings around the globe, however, serious gaps exist in the provision and prioritization of SRH care, making them unavailable or inaccessible for many displaced people. Abortion provision in particular is restricted in some countries with large populations of displaced people, such as Uganda, where unsafe abortion continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. This brief highlights findings from a study on the abortion experiences of displaced people in Bidibidi refugee settlement and provides recommendations to health care providers and health facilities on actions they can take to improve the lives of displaced women and girls in Uganda.