An Examination of Access to Reproductive Health Services and Attitudes Towards Family Planning Among Syrian Refugee Women Under Temporary Protection: The Case of Istanbul
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of Syrian refugee women under temporary protection towards Family Planning (FP) and their access to reproductive health services, and to form a basis for the provision of health services in this direction.,
Method: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 123 Syrian refugee women under temporary protection, aged between 15 and 49. Data were collected using the “Introductory Information Form” and the “Family Planning Attitude Scale (FPAS).” Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis.
Results: The mean age of the women participating in the study was determined as 28.54±7.16. It was determined that 72.4% of the women used a family planning method. It was determined that 82.9% of the women consulted their husbands about the method choice. It was determined that 68.3% of the women received information about family planning from their family/close circle. FPAS score average of the women participating in the study was found to be 110.92±22.06. When the AP methods used by the women were evaluated; it was determined that 20.3% commonly used withdrawal, 14.6% condom, 12.2% Intrauterine Device (IUD), 11.4% oral contraceptive, 8.1% calendar, 5.7% lactational amenorrhea method, 4.1% vaginal douche and 3.3% injectable contraceptives.
Conclusion: According to the study findings, Syrian refugee women had a more-than-moderately positive attitude towards family planning. However, the most commonly used method among participants was the traditional withdrawal method. In this context, it is of great importance to provide culturally appropriate reproductive health and family planning education for refugee women and their husbands, supported by interpreter services.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Clinical Midwifery
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
May 31, 2026
Submission Date
June 14, 2025
Acceptance Date
October 25, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2
