Page 92 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 92
r Karnjuš, Mirko Prosen, Urška Bogataj, Doroteja Rebec, and Sabina Ličen
strated that inequality between partners may affect the woman’s contracep-
tive attitude since young women were found to rely on their partners when
making decisions on contraceptive use. Culturally prescribed gender roles,
combined with patriarchal values, may affect a woman’s ability to have con-
trol over her sexual and reproductive needs (Metusela et al., 2017). However,
it has been reported that in some cases migration to an economically more
developed country can result in positive changes in men’s attitudes to sexual
and reproductive health (Adanu & Johnson, 2009). The use of contraceptives
can be further enhanced by good communication between partners. A study
by Kamal and Islam (2012) showed that frequent communication between
partners about family planning leads to greater use of contraceptives.
Level of education is also recognised as an important factor in family plan-
ning. Although we were unable to demonstrate the influence of this factor on
contraception use, the utilisation of modern contraceptives in this study was
somewhat higher among immigrants who possessed a higher education. A
French survey investigating the use and method of contraception among
immigrant and non-immigrant women found that immigrant women with
a lower level of educational attainment were less likely to use contraception
(Poncet et al., 2013). Similar results were found in previous studies in China
and Australia (Ip, Chan, Chan, & Chan, 2011; Shah et al., 2018). Women with a
higher level of education have a better social status, which gives them more
options for contraception and they are thus more likely to use them (Shaukat
& Pell, 2015).
We also observed that migrant women from some former republics of Yu-
goslavia which are less economically developed, like Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina, FYR Macedonia and Kosovo, tend to use contraception less than women
from other countries. The lower utilisation rate of contraceptives may be
partly the result of complex social processes associated with an immigration
background, such as values and norms involving contraceptive practices,
socio-cultural beliefs, awareness or knowledge of reproductive health or the
freedom to make safe reproductive choices (Poncet et al., 2013). Although
people from the former Yugoslav republics (mainly Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) still account for most of the foreign im-
migrants in Slovenia, the country has increasingly become a target country
for other immigrants like Iranians, Syrians, people from Afghanistan etc. (Eu-
ropean Migration Network, 2017). We must be aware that today and in the
near future the number of immigrants settling in high-income countries will
grow, and that it is essential to have culturally competent healthcare staff in
place for that scenario because every woman, regardless of her background
90
strated that inequality between partners may affect the woman’s contracep-
tive attitude since young women were found to rely on their partners when
making decisions on contraceptive use. Culturally prescribed gender roles,
combined with patriarchal values, may affect a woman’s ability to have con-
trol over her sexual and reproductive needs (Metusela et al., 2017). However,
it has been reported that in some cases migration to an economically more
developed country can result in positive changes in men’s attitudes to sexual
and reproductive health (Adanu & Johnson, 2009). The use of contraceptives
can be further enhanced by good communication between partners. A study
by Kamal and Islam (2012) showed that frequent communication between
partners about family planning leads to greater use of contraceptives.
Level of education is also recognised as an important factor in family plan-
ning. Although we were unable to demonstrate the influence of this factor on
contraception use, the utilisation of modern contraceptives in this study was
somewhat higher among immigrants who possessed a higher education. A
French survey investigating the use and method of contraception among
immigrant and non-immigrant women found that immigrant women with
a lower level of educational attainment were less likely to use contraception
(Poncet et al., 2013). Similar results were found in previous studies in China
and Australia (Ip, Chan, Chan, & Chan, 2011; Shah et al., 2018). Women with a
higher level of education have a better social status, which gives them more
options for contraception and they are thus more likely to use them (Shaukat
& Pell, 2015).
We also observed that migrant women from some former republics of Yu-
goslavia which are less economically developed, like Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina, FYR Macedonia and Kosovo, tend to use contraception less than women
from other countries. The lower utilisation rate of contraceptives may be
partly the result of complex social processes associated with an immigration
background, such as values and norms involving contraceptive practices,
socio-cultural beliefs, awareness or knowledge of reproductive health or the
freedom to make safe reproductive choices (Poncet et al., 2013). Although
people from the former Yugoslav republics (mainly Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) still account for most of the foreign im-
migrants in Slovenia, the country has increasingly become a target country
for other immigrants like Iranians, Syrians, people from Afghanistan etc. (Eu-
ropean Migration Network, 2017). We must be aware that today and in the
near future the number of immigrants settling in high-income countries will
grow, and that it is essential to have culturally competent healthcare staff in
place for that scenario because every woman, regardless of her background
90
