Sexual and reproductive justice – exploring honour-based violence among young people in Sweden and co-creation of public health interventions with stakeholder and end-user involvement

Research problem and specific questions: Honour-based violence (HBV) is a significant societal issue with distinct social, economic, and public health consequences.

Being rooted within gender-based violence HBV refers to individuals, primarily girls and women but also boys and men, being restricted in their lives and subjected to pressures and violence aimed at maintaining family control over the individuals sexuality.

Youth are a prioritized group within the national SRHR (Sexual and reproductive health and rights) work and the national efforts against HBV.

Approximately 26 % of youth live with norms of abstaining from premarital sex, and 5 percent are in families where HBV occurs. Studies have linked HBV with negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and affective disorders.

Yet, population based research regarding broader health outcomes among youth related to HBV is scarce within the Swedish context.

We aim to investigate experiences related to reproductive oppression, primarily honour-based violence (HBV), and its association with health and equity among young people in Sweden.

Data and method: We will use both qualitative and quantitative methods in 3 studies: (i) a population-based cross-sectional study will describe the prevalence and social determinants of HBV, as well as the link between HBV and self-reported and psychosomatic health issues among youth; (ii) a qualitative interview study will explore experiences of youth subjected to HBV and their access to comprehensive sexual education and basic SRH services and to contextualise and bridge evidence into practice.(iii) a public health intervention will be co-created through public engagement and stakeholder dialogue.

Societal relevance and utilization: This project responds to global and national sustainable development goals and aims to contribute with scientific evidence that can improve the conditions for young people to achieve equitable and gender-equal, sexual reproductive health and rights .

By highlighting the interacting factors influencing HBV and its impact on the health and rights of young people, the project intends to guide evidence-based interventions and policies that can promote youth SRHR in Sweden.

Plan for project realization: A multi-disciplinary research team at the Karolinska Institutet, Örebro University, Sweden and McMaster University, Canada and will realize the project and the budget will be consisting of salaries and overhead costs.