Reproductive health in humanitarian settings in Lebanon and Iraq: results from four cross-sectional studies, 2014–2015

Abstract

Background Reproductive health is an important component of humanitarian response. Displaced women need access to family planning, antenatal care, and the presence of a skilled birth attendant at delivery. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Lebanon and Iraq have been hosting large numbers of refugees, thereby straining local capacities to provide these services. In order to identify salient health needs, Médecins Sans Frontières conducted a survey in several sites hosting refugees and internally displaced persons across the region. Here we describe the reproductive health profile of Syrian refugees, Iraqi displaced persons, and vulnerable Lebanese and their use of services. Methods We conducted four cross-sectional surveys in 2014–2015 in two sites in Lebanon and two sites in Iraq. Depending on the site, two-stage cluster sampling or systematic sampling was intended, but non-probability methods were employed at the second stage due to implementation challenges. We collected information on overall health (including reproductive health) and demographic information from heads of households on the basis of a standardized questionnaire. Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare proportions, and generalized linear models were used to calculate odds ratios with regard to risk factors. All analyses were performed using the survey suite of commands in Stata version 14.1. Results A total of 23,604 individuals were surveyed, including 5925 women of childbearing age. Overall, it was reported that 7.5% of women were currently pregnant and 12.8% had given birth within the previous 12 months. It was reported that pregnancy was unplanned for 57% of currently pregnant women and 66.7% of women who had delivered in the previous year. A slight majority of women from both groups had accessed antenatal care at least once. Amongst women who had delivered in the previous year, 84.5% had done so with a skilled birth attendant and 22.1% had had a cesarean section. Location and head of household education were predictors of unplanned pregnancy in multivariable analysis. Head of household education was also significantly associated with higher uptake of antenatal care. Conclusions Considering the large number of pregnant women and women having recently delivered in these settings, addressing their sexual and reproductive health needs emerges as a crucial aspect of humanitarian response. This study identified unmet needs for family planning and high cesarean section rates at all sites, suggesting both lack of access to certain services (contraception, antenatal care), but also over-recourse to cesarean section. These specific challenges can impact directly on maternal and child health and need today to be kept high on the humanitarian agenda.

Unmet family planning needs among female refugees and asylum seekers in Germany – is free access to family planning services enough? Results of a cross-sectional study

“…The number of current pregnancies among our respondents resemble those of a study conducted at refugee camps in Lebanon and Iraq between 2014 and 2015 (8% of refugees in Germany vs. 7.5% in Lebanon and Iraq). Alarmingly, the same study stated that 57% of pregnancies were unplanned [31].…”

Manzuaat wa Musharadat, Uprooted and Scattered: Refugee Women Escape Journey and the Longing to Return to Syria

“…Some refugees have no choice but to return to Syria seeking medical treatment, despite the ongoing conflict. These refugees are unable to afford the healthcare expenses in Jordan, and therefore travel periodically between Jordan and Syria to seek more affordable treatment in Syria (Gerard and Pickering, 2014;Akik et al, 2019;Balinska et al, 2019).…”

FIGO Statement: Antenatal care and refugees

“…1 Three countries contribute to approximately half the number of refugees worldwide: Syria at 4.9 million, Afghanistan at 2.7 million, and Somalia at 1.1 million. 1,2 By December 2019, it was estimated that Lebanon was hosting over 900 000 registered Syrian refugees, 3 with the actual number believed to be much higher if unregistered refugees were taken into account (approximately 1.5 million), and Turkey hosting over 3.5 million Syrian refugees, representing the largest population of Syrian refugees in the world (64.4%). 3 The residences of refugees vary by country, with some living in tented settlements, makeshift buildings, construction sites, and garages, whilst others live in rented apartments or share residences with friends and relatives.…”

“…Forced displacement of citizens has been on the rise since the 1990s but has significantly increased over the past decade. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 65 million people were displaced from their home countries due to war and other political events by the end of 2015 1 . Three countries contribute to approximately half the number of refugees worldwide: Syria at 4.9 million, Afghanistan at 2.7 million, and Somalia at 1.1 million 1,2 .…”

“…According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 65 million people were displaced from their home countries due to war and other political events by the end of 2015 1 . Three countries contribute to approximately half the number of refugees worldwide: Syria at 4.9 million, Afghanistan at 2.7 million, and Somalia at 1.1 million 1,2 . By December 2019, it was estimated that Lebanon was hosting over 900 000 registered Syrian refugees, 3 with the actual number believed to be much higher if unregistered refugees were taken into account (approximately 1.5 million), and Turkey hosting over 3.5 million Syrian refugees, representing the largest population of Syrian refugees in the world (64.4%) 3 …”