Sexual and reproductive health of migrants: An evaluation from the perspective of social workers

This study aims to evaluate the field of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the context of migration through the professional experiences and perspectives of social workers working with migrant populations in Turkey. The study was designed based on a phenomenological approach within the framework of a qualitative research model. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview form were used as data collection tools. The study group consisted of 25 social workers working with migrants in public, municipality, and non-governmental organizations. Sixteen of the participants were women and nine were men, ranging in age from 24 to 50. The interviews were conducted online via Zoom and Google Meet platforms, recorded with the participants' consent, and converted into Microsoft Word documents. The data obtained were transferred to the MAXQDA 2024 program and analyzed using descriptive analysis methods. The findings were grouped into three main themes. The first theme focuses on the migrant groups the specialists work with and the SRH-based problems these groups face. The second theme addresses the experiences and strategies developed by social service professionals in the face of knowledge, skill, and institutional limitations. The third theme covers recommendations for improving service quality. Among these recommendations, curriculum development, strengthening supervision mechanisms, and preparing information materials in the native language stand out. The research reveals that the needs of social workers in the field of SRHR must be addressed not only at the individual level but also at the institutional and structural levels. This study aims to contribute to the enhancement of the professional capacities of specialists working with migrants and to social work education. Keywords: Sexual health, reproductive health, social work with migrants, migration and social work