Page 93 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 93
Use of Modern Contraceptive Methods among Migrant Women Living in Slovenia
or origin, has the right to adequate SRH care (Raben et al., 2018). Interven-
tions designed to raise awareness and use of contraceptives among the mi-
grant population can bring multiple payoffs (Lindstrom & Hernández, 2006).
It is therefore important for health services to provide culturally relevant and
readily understood information to enable migrant women and men to make
informed decisions about contraception (Ellawela et al., 2017).
Several limitations of this study should be considered. The sample size was
relatively small (n = 52). In addition, our study only included migrant women
treated at just one regional maternity hospital in Slovenia. Therefore, caution
needs to be taken when generalising the study’s findings. In addition, the
study’s duration was quite limited (March to September 2018). Although our
questionnaire took a broad approach to the subject of migration (it also in-
cluded issues related to the social integration of migrant women and not only
subjects regarding their SRH), in the future it should be focused on a more
specific area. Despite these limitations, this study is one of the first to iden-
tify the factors associated with contraceptive use among migrant women in
Slovenia and, as such, provides a good platform for further research in this
area.
Conclusions
This study showed that migrant women are more likely to use modern con-
traceptive methods when they have better knowledge of them and if their
partner has a positive attitude to contraception use. These results suggest
there is a need for SRH education courses for all migrants, both male and
female, especially pertaining to modern contraceptive use. Targeted cultur-
ally appropriate campaigns to improve awareness of and access to afford-
able contraceptive options are recommended. This study also informs the
necessity to conduct a large-scale epidemiological study on the sexual and
reproductive health of migrant women in Slovenia in the near future.
References
Adanu, R. M., & Johnson, T. R. (2009). Migration and women’s health. Interna-
tional Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 106(2), 179–181.
Aptekman, M., Rashid, M., Wright, V., & Dunn, S. (2014). Unmet contraceptive
needs among refugees. Canadian Family Physician, 60(12), e613-9.
Botfield, J. R., Newman, C. E., & Zwi, A. B. (2016). Young people from culturally
diverse backgrounds and their use of services for sexual and reproductive
health needs: A structured scoping review. Sexual Health, 13(1), 1–9.
Caruso, S., Iraci, M., Cianci, S., Fava, V., Casella, E., & Cianci, A. (2016). Compara-
tive, open-label prospective study on the quality of life and sexual func-
91
or origin, has the right to adequate SRH care (Raben et al., 2018). Interven-
tions designed to raise awareness and use of contraceptives among the mi-
grant population can bring multiple payoffs (Lindstrom & Hernández, 2006).
It is therefore important for health services to provide culturally relevant and
readily understood information to enable migrant women and men to make
informed decisions about contraception (Ellawela et al., 2017).
Several limitations of this study should be considered. The sample size was
relatively small (n = 52). In addition, our study only included migrant women
treated at just one regional maternity hospital in Slovenia. Therefore, caution
needs to be taken when generalising the study’s findings. In addition, the
study’s duration was quite limited (March to September 2018). Although our
questionnaire took a broad approach to the subject of migration (it also in-
cluded issues related to the social integration of migrant women and not only
subjects regarding their SRH), in the future it should be focused on a more
specific area. Despite these limitations, this study is one of the first to iden-
tify the factors associated with contraceptive use among migrant women in
Slovenia and, as such, provides a good platform for further research in this
area.
Conclusions
This study showed that migrant women are more likely to use modern con-
traceptive methods when they have better knowledge of them and if their
partner has a positive attitude to contraception use. These results suggest
there is a need for SRH education courses for all migrants, both male and
female, especially pertaining to modern contraceptive use. Targeted cultur-
ally appropriate campaigns to improve awareness of and access to afford-
able contraceptive options are recommended. This study also informs the
necessity to conduct a large-scale epidemiological study on the sexual and
reproductive health of migrant women in Slovenia in the near future.
References
Adanu, R. M., & Johnson, T. R. (2009). Migration and women’s health. Interna-
tional Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 106(2), 179–181.
Aptekman, M., Rashid, M., Wright, V., & Dunn, S. (2014). Unmet contraceptive
needs among refugees. Canadian Family Physician, 60(12), e613-9.
Botfield, J. R., Newman, C. E., & Zwi, A. B. (2016). Young people from culturally
diverse backgrounds and their use of services for sexual and reproductive
health needs: A structured scoping review. Sexual Health, 13(1), 1–9.
Caruso, S., Iraci, M., Cianci, S., Fava, V., Casella, E., & Cianci, A. (2016). Compara-
tive, open-label prospective study on the quality of life and sexual func-
91
