Abstract
Background: Migrant and diasporic communities experience barriers to achieving positive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. To date, there is little synthesis on the SRH experiences of Pacific diaspora who reside outside of their ancestral Pacific Island nations. We have conducted a qualitative scoping review to capture how the Pacific diaspora perceives , experiences, and participates in SRH from a global perspective.
Methods: We ran an online search on 11 November 2025 in OVID Medline, EBM Reviews, APA PsychInfo, and Scopus, augmented with referencing searching to identify qualitative studies reporting Pacific diaspora experiences of SRH. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist were performed by two reviewers. Thematic synthesis was used to draw together common themes across the studies and was reported using a narrative synthesis approach.
Results: From 2,074 initial titles, we identified 32 qualitative studies of 1,053 participants that captured the SRH experiences of Pacific people living in diasporic communities. There were a range of positive factors that influenced SRH experiences such as family and peer supports, self-efficacy, and an awareness of SRH services. Common factors that negatively impacted SRH experiences included cultural expectations and family obligations, negative social attitudes toward sex(uality), and conflicts that arose from cultural and religious beliefs. Health literacy and strategies to facilitate discussion of SRH within families were identified as targetable areas for health professionals and service providers aiming to improve Pacific diaspora SRH.
Conclusions: This study is the first to capture the breadth of SRH experiences of the Pacific diaspora from a global perspective. Our findings are largely in line with studies in the Pacific region which describe complex social and cultural pressures affecting SRH access and participation. However, the experiences of specific genders and ethnic subgroups that comprise the Pacific diaspora remain obscure, requiring further research.