Exploring the role of Community Health Workers in Maternal and Child Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Central and South America

My research aims to answer how host and displaced communities in Brazil and Colombia interact around
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).
I would specifically examine populations who are disproportionately affected by indicators of
reproductive health, such as displaced and/or indigenous women.
The key aim of my project would be to determine the most pressing issues that prevent women from
realising their SRHR. Research would aim to highlight barriers identified by local women and Community
Health Workers (CHW) that prevent CHWs positive engaging with marginalised populations. This would
lead to suggesting improvements to health programmes and training involving CHWs, enabling them to
become more transformative agents of change. The research would contribute to knowledge to inform
health practitioners and policymakers how to fulfil SRHR and improve reproductive health in marginal
groups.
I intend to examine the extent to which CHWs in host and receiving communities currently manage these
differences; identify key wants and needs in marginalised populations and create a framework that would
enable CHWs to maximise their capabilities as agents of change. Therefore, sub-questions I will be
investigating include:
a) How are state actors in Brazil and Colombia fulfilling their obligations to secure sexual and
reproductive health rights?
b) What are the barriers women face in accessing existing services?
c) How can CHWs better fulfil the SRHR of marginalised women?
d) How can these services be improved to include marginalised groups?