Socio-Cultural Challenges of Family Planning Initiatives for Displaced Populations in Conflict Situations and Humanitarian Settings

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2018

Journal

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

Volume

12

Issue

6

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2017.146

Keywords

community health planning; health services; preventive health services; refugees; relief work

Abstract

© 2018 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. Provision of family planning services for refugee populations in conflict and humanitarian settings has been improving. Availability of services, however, does not translate into acceptability and uptake; understanding socio-cultural settings and barriers is critical to ensure utilization of services. Misconceptions and apprehensions surrounding family planning services are common. Populations may see limiting pregnancies as counterproductive in light of high child mortality or suspicious in the context of ethnic violence; larger family size has the perceived advantage of additional security for the community or ethnic group, assistance with family duties in a subsistence structure, and a social service investment for parents as they age; and there may be religious and moral objections to contraception. Any service planning and implementation must take into account community perceptions and address socio-cultural contextual subtleties. Ongoing community education via local initiatives from within the refugee community, region-wide structural strategies for service implementation and sustainability, and efforts to reconcile reproductive rights and family planning services within the religious and social context are crucial. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:670-674)

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