Young migrants and sexual and reproductive health risk multidisciplinary and participatory research in Northern Laos (FEFR MIGLAO)

In northern Laos, along the economic corridor connecting the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo province, rapid socio-economic transformations are reshaping local livelihoods and health vulnerabilities. Young women and men migrants face heightened sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks linked to mobility, poverty, gender inequalities, and limited access to health services. This multidisciplinary and participatory research project explores these intersecting vulnerabilities through a combination of quantitative, qualitative and visual methods, including photovoice, life stories, and community workshops. The narratives and images collected reveal the double burden faced by young migrant: structural vulnerabilities such as economic insecurity, stigma, and precarious living conditions, combined with systemic barriers within the healthcare system. Topics that emerged from photovoice and life stories include access to contraception; fertility and infertility care; maternal and newborn health; education on sexuality, safe and healthy relationships; sexual coercion and intimate partner violence; gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage; early and unwanted pregnancy; abortion; lack of access to quality SRH services; and the risk, prevention, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. By integrating artistic and scientific approaches, this project aims to make young migrants’ experiences visible and actionable. The audiovisual exhibition, designed in collaboration with participants, serves both as a research dissemination tool and a medium for dialogue between communities, health professionals, and policymakers. Beyond documenting risks, the project contributes to capacity-building and empowerment by involving young people as coresearchers and advocates for SRH rights. Ultimately, this participatory and creative approach demonstrates the potential of combining social science research and visual storytelling to inform inclusive and culturally sensitive public health interventions in migration contexts.