Reproductive health issues of undocumented migrant women living in Istanbul

Abstract

Objectives

Compared with the indigenous population of a host country, undocumented migrant women often experience more complicated reproductive health issues and fewer women access preventive gynaecology services. The aims of the study were to identify the reproductive health issues and demand for health services of undocumented migrant women living in Istanbul.

Methods

The population of this cross-sectional, descriptive study comprised 236 undocumented migrant women living in Istanbul, recruited using the snowball method. Data were collected through a three part questionnaire written in Turkish, Arabic, Persian, English and French.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 27.6 ± 7.0 years; 47% were transit migrants; 72% became pregnant in Turkey; 42.2% had had an unplanned pregnancy; 70.8% had received antenatal care; 10.4% had had an unplanned home birth; and 21.2% reported menstrual irregularity. Only 5.5% reported that they had had a gynaecological examination and only 4.2% had taken part in a screening programme.

Conclusion

Participants’ primary reproductive health problems were unwanted pregnancy and menstrual irregularity. While demand for family planning, regular gynaecological examinations and screening programmes was low, demand for antenatal and childbirth care was high.

摘要

目的：与东道国本土人口相比, 非法移民妇女往往面临更复杂的生殖健康问题, 且享有妇科疾病预防性服务的妇女更少。本研究的目的是确定居住在伊斯坦布尔的非法移民妇女的生殖健康问题和对保健服务的需求。

方法：这项横断面描述性研究的人群包括通过滚雪球法招募的236名居住在伊斯坦布尔的非法移民妇女。数据是通过用土耳其语、阿拉伯语、波斯语、英语和法语写成的三部分问卷收集的。

结果：受试者的平均年龄为27.6±7.0岁, 47%为流动人口, 72%在土耳其怀孕, 42.2%有过意外妊娠, 70.8%接受过产前护理, 10.4%有过非计划家庭分娩, 21.2%报告月经不规律。只有5.5%的人报告说他们做过妇科检查, 只有4.2%的人进行了筛查。

结论：受试者的主要生殖健康问题是意外妊娠和月经不调。虽然对计划生育、定期妇科检查和筛查的需求很低, 但对产前和分娩护理的需求很高。

Keywords:

• Health care
• migration
• Istanbul
• reproductive health
• undocumented migrant women

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the undocumented migrant women who helped with this research and the volunteers who dedicated their time to the study and helped with data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.