Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights during Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Operational Guidance for Humanitarian and Fragile Settings

The purpose of the “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights during Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Operational Guidance for Humanitarian and Fragile Settings” document is to provide practical advice for health staff undertaking infectious disease preparedness and response activities to ensure that the sexual and reproductive (SRH) needs of the population are met when an outbreak occurs.  It is designed to be an operational guide to support health actors to maintain critical SRH services during infectious disease outbreaks and ensure necessary SRH considerations are integrated within the outbreak response.

The guidance was developed by the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children’s READY initiative. The guidance is divided into four sections:

  • Section One explores the effects of Infectious Disease Outbreaks on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 
  • Section Two looks at cross cutting considerations to consider, such as the importance of coordination. 
  • Section Three examines ways to maintain the safety and continuity of essential sexual and reproductive health services during infectious disease outbreaks and
  • Section Four explores ways in which to integrate sexual and reproductive health needs within infectious disease outbreak responses. 
  • Finally, the guidance includes two annexes; annex one is a preparedness and response checklist to aid programming and annex two includes additional tools and resources.
     

This guidance pairs with the supplemental guidance, Safe Abortion Care During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

The guidance is now available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.