Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of Syrian women under temporary protection status towards family planning

It was conducted to reveal the fertility characteristics of Syrian women under temporary protection, as well as their knowledge levels, attitudes, behaviors and related factors regarding family planning methods. Our study is a cross-sectional study and was conducted among women between the ages of 18-49 who applied to Adıyaman Provincial Immigrant Health Center. The sample number was determined as 288 people. A questionnaire form prepared by literature review and family planning attitude scale were used in data collection. The obtained data were recorded in the statistical package program and error checks, tables and statistical analyzes were made through this program. Descriptive statistics are expressed as numbers and percentages. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, median values. Relationships between continuous variables are examined with the t test, one-way anova, Mann Whitney U test and Kruskall Wallis H test. The relationships between the variables in the categorical structure were examined with Chi-Square and Fischer's exact Chi-Square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the use of modern family planning methods using possible factors obtained from the analyzes. The results were evaluated within the 95% confidence interval and the p<0.05 value was accepted as significant. In the study, it was determined that the average age of Syrian women was 31.027,72, the average duration of marriage was 11.787,44, the average age of first birth was 19.373,19, the average number of pregnancies was 4.742,42, and the average number of births was 3.871,98. It was determined that 65.3% of Syrian women had secondary school or lower education level, 93.1% were housewives, 51.4% had 5 or more pregnancies, the unmet need for family planning was 21.0%, 28.5% had abortions, and 5.6% had abortion (involuntary abortion).All of the participants stated that they did not approve of curettage and that they would not have abortion in the future. 71.9% of the participants stated that they did not know the definition of family planning. It has been determined that the most common methods are IUD, COC and condom. The rate of using modern methods at any given time was 51.7%. The most commonly used methods were IUD, COC, condom and withdrawal, respectively. In our study, the reason why Syrian women did not use any method at any time; 51.0% of them stated that they lacked information about the methods, 52.4% of them did not know where to obtain family planning methods, 27.1% of them stated that they were worried that they would be harmful to health, and 20.0% of them had difficulty in obtaining the methods. In addition, 43.8% of those who did not use family planning methods stated that they did not use it for religious reasons. In our study, while the husbands were included in the decision-making process in 93.0% of those who used family planning method, this rate was 83.8% in those who did not use the method. According to our research, the unmet need for family planning is high. In our study, it was observed that the participants lacked knowledge about family planning methods and did not know where to obtain the methods. In addition, the rate of not using the method for religious reasons was high. In order to solve this situation, family planning consultancy services should be expanded. Involving men in planning family planning education is crucial to improving access to family planning services. Family planning consultancy service should be given individually, and it should be ensured that an appropriate and effective family planning method is selected.