Does cosmopolitan culture weaken ethnic and regional diversity: contraceptive behaviours of women in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Objective

The primary aim of the study was to examine the relationship between self-reported ethnic identity, region of birth and contraceptive use, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from a random sample of 3038 married women of reproductive age living in two urban districts of Istanbul were used in a series of logistic regression models to assess key relationships.

Results

Kurdish ethnic minority women were less likely than Turkish ethnic majority women to use traditional contraceptive methods over no method (relative risk ratio [RRR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50, 0.96). However, there were no significant differences between ethnicities (i.e., Turkish, Kurdish and other) and modern method use. Among Turkish women, those born in regions farther away from the western region were more likely to use traditional methods (RRR_northern 2.06; 95% CI 1.31, 3.22).

Conclusion

While Kurdish ethnic minority women were less likely to use traditional methods, compared with Turkish ethnic majority women, the difference might have been due to the length of time living in a neighbourhood. Regional variations in contraceptive use were concentrated only among Turkish ethnic majority women and for traditional methods. Regional norms of traditional method use may be a barrier to modern contraceptive use in Turkey.

世界主义文化是否削弱了种族和地域多样性：土耳其伊斯坦布尔妇女的避孕行为 摘要

目的：本研究的主要目的是调查土耳其伊斯坦布尔自述种族认同、出生地区与避孕药具应用之间的关系。

方法：对居住在伊斯坦布尔两个城市地区的3038名已婚育龄女性随机抽样调查的横断面数据, 采用一系列logistic回归模型来评估主要关系。

结果：库尔德少数民族女性与土耳其多数民族女性相比, 使用传统避孕方法的可能性较低(相对风险比[RRR]0.69; 95%可信区间[CI]0.50,0.96)。但是, 种族(即土耳其人、库尔德人等)在现代避孕方法使用情况上没有显著差异。在土耳其女性中, 出生在远离西部地区的女性更倾向于使用传统方法(RRR_Northern2.06; 95%CI1.31,3.22)。

结论：与土耳其多数民族女性相比, 库尔德少数民族女性不太可能使用传统避孕方法, 但这种差异可能是由于居住在一个社区的时间长。避孕药具使用的地域差异仅局限在土耳其多数民族女性和应用传统避孕方法。传统避孕方法应用的区域常态可能是土耳其现代避孕方法应用的障碍。

Keywords:

• Contraceptive use
• ethnicity
• health disparities
• region of birth
• Turkey

Acknowledgements

We extend our thanks to the women who participated in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest associated with this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by an anonymous donor.