BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS.

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the barriers and challenges in accessing reproductive health services for women in rural areas, with the goal of contributing to the development of targeted policies and actions that ensure equitable access to healthcare in these regions. The methodology used in this study consisted of a systematic literature review. The objective was to search for relevant studies addressing the barriers and challenges in accessing reproductive health services for women in rural areas. To achieve this, a search was conducted in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the following search terms: "barriers," "challenges," "access," "reproductive health," "women," and "rural areas." Inclusion criteria were established for the selection of studies. Studies published in the last 10 years, written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, specifically addressing the barriers and challenges in accessing reproductive health services in rural areas were included. Studies unrelated to the topic, duplicates, and studies with samples restricted to specific geographic regions were excluded. The scarcity of trained healthcare professionals was also identified as a significant challenge. It is important to emphasize that equity in accessing reproductive health services is a fundamental human right. Women in rural areas have the same right to quality health and reproductive care as women in urban areas. Therefore, it is the responsibility of governments, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole to work together to overcome these barriers and ensure that all women have fair and dignified access to reproductive health services.