A community-based survey on Syrian refugee women's health and its predictors in Sanliurfa, Turkey

Reproductive characteristics, mental health symptoms, micronutrient deficiencies, and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were determined among married Syrian refugee women aged 15-49years who were living outside of camps in 2015, using probability sampling. Of the 458 participants, 51.3percent married before the age of 18years. Early-age marriages and number of desired children increased after the war. In multivariable analyses, education (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2-1.3) and length of stay in Sanlurfa (aOR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1-1.2) were independently associated with early marriage. Approximately 16percent of women were pregnant, and 26.7percent of them had not received prenatal care; 47.7percent had had a pregnancy loss; 50.8percent reported symptoms of STIs. Of those who were sexually active, 37.8percent were not using contraception. The prevalence of iron, B-12, and folic acid deficiencies was 50percent, 45.6percent, and 10.5percent, respectively. Early marriage (aOR=2.2; 95% CI=1.4-3.5) and number of desired children (aOR=5.03; 95% CI=3.2-7.9) were associated with not using contraception. Most (89.7percent) women reported at least two mental health symptoms; lack of social support (aOR=2.6; 95% CI=1.3-5.3), language barrier (aOR=2.3; 95% CI=1.01-5.2), and B-12 deficiency (aOR=1.8; 95% CI=1.01-3.4) were associated with such symptoms. The findings demonstrate the need for reproductive health and psychosocial services.