Contraceptive use and fertility behaviour among Syrian migrant women

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate fertility behaviours and contraceptive use among Syrian migrant women in western Turkey.

Methods

An epidemiological, single-centre, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. The survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and types of marriage, use of contraceptive methods and fertility behaviours among 223 Syrian migrant women.

Results

The women’s mean (± standard deviation) age range was 29.6 ± 9.1 (range 18–49) years; 29.6% had no formal marriage status; 61.0% had had an arranged marriage. The mean age at first pregnancy was 19.5 ± 3.4 (13–39) years; 26.4% had become pregnant before the age of 18. In total, 94.2% of participants had knowledge of contraceptive methods. However, 47.5% did not use contraception and the main reason for this was to become pregnant again. Intrauterine devices and oral contraceptive pills were known as contraceptive methods by 67.7% and 72.2% of women, but used by only 16.1% and 8.5%, respectively. Withdrawal (22.0%) was the most used contraceptive method. There was a risk of unwanted pregnancy in 13.0% of participants. Arranged marriage and low educational level were determined to be risk factors for adolescent pregnancy.

Conclusion

Although Syrian migrant women were aware of contraceptive methods, the rate of method use was low.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在调查土耳其西部叙利亚移民女性的生育行为和避孕用品的应用情况。

方法：采用流行病学、单中心、横断面、描述性研究。纳入了223名叙利亚移民女性的社会人口特征和婚姻类型、避孕措施的应用和生育行为的数据。

结果：女性平均年龄(±标准差)为29.6±9.1岁(范围18-49岁)；29.6%的人没有正式结婚；61.0%的人是包办婚姻。平均首次妊娠年龄为19.5±3.4(13-39)岁；26.4%的人在18岁前怀孕。共有94.2%的参与者了解避孕方法。47.5%的人没有采取避孕措施, 主要原因是为了再次怀孕。67.7%和72.2%的女性认为宫内节育器和口服避孕药是避孕方法, 但分别只有16.1%和8.5%的人应用。体外射精是最常用的避孕方法, 占22.0%。13.0%的参与者存在意外怀孕的风险。包办婚姻和低文化程度是青少年怀孕的危险因素。

结论：叙利亚移民的女性虽然知道避孕方法, 但应用率较低。

Keywords:

• Women
• adolescent pregnancy
• fertility behaviour
• contraceptive use
• Syria
• immigrant

Acknowledgements

We thank Şeniz Duygulu (Department of Dermatology, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey) for reading and editing our manuscript in a constructive manner and for her valuable contributions to the discussion. We would also like to express our gratitude to Samir Alkarrat (Department of Paediatric Surgery, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey) for providing insight into Syrian culture during the course of planning this research.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.