Pregnancy and Sexual Related Problems Among Women Living on the Street at Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia 2021

Abstract Background: The problem of women and youths living on the street is a global phenomenon. It has created countless problems while they lived on the street. Women living on the streets are exposed to unwanted pregnancies and sexual-related problems as they are exposed to sexual exploitation, rape, and prostitution. It is a frequent observation to see women begging on the streets of major cities in Ethiopia having one or two babies by their sides. Besides they are less likely to benefit from basic reproductive health services as living in the poorest segment, delivering and caring for their children on the streets life. Little is known about the overall pregnancy and childbearing scenarios of street women and related health problems. This study will give a better in-depth understanding of the distressing and highly challenging problem among women on the street regarding pregnancy and related problems. Objective: To explore pregnancy and sexual-related problems among women living on the street of Dire Dawa administration, Eastern Ethiopia 2021.Methods: a community-based phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at Dire Dawa city. Data was collected from homeless women through focus group discussion and in-depth interviews using a semi-structured tool that has been translated into the local language, aided by a voice recorder. Then the collected data were translated and transcribed. Codes and themes were derived from the transcribed data using ATLAS to version 7. The final report was developed using a thematic narrative analysis methodResult: Women living on the street are more likely to experience physical abuse, sexual harassment, STI/HIV, unsafe sexual intercourse and unwanted pregnancy. As a result, the fate of this pregnancy is abortion which makes adolescents at high risk of getting health complications as most abortions are made in illegal and unsafe ways. Conclusion: Unwanted pregnancy, STI, HIV, rape and unsafe abortion are the major concerns as it accompanied by their homelessness situation and abusive lifestyles. The regional health bureau needs to understand the extent of the problem and plan to organize an awareness creation program on STI/HIV, risk of pregnancy and SRH services.