PhD defence Tadele Dana Darebo

Keywords: Vulnerable populations, sexual and reproductive health, Ethiopia, Challenges

"The Sexual and Reproductive Health Challenges of Vulnerable Populations in Ethiopia"

This thesis examined how vulnerable populations—particularly migrant, refugee, and socially marginalized women—experience sexual and reproductive health care in fragile and resource-constrained settings. It explored why many women face barriers to care, even when services are officially available. The research showed that access to care is shaped not only by the presence of clinics or trained professionals, but also by communication, trust, cultural understanding, and the responsiveness of health systems.

The findings demonstrate that respectful, communication-centred, and gender-sensitive care improves women’s ability to make informed decisions and continue using services. The thesis further highlights how broader challenges—such as poverty, displacement, and weak governance—affect health outcomes. It argues that improving health requires more than expanding services; it requires strengthening institutions, addressing inequalities, and ensuring that care is responsive to the lived realities of vulnerable communities.

Click here for the live stream.