Antenatal care utilisation among Syrian refugees in Tehran: A respondent driven sampling method. Issue 2 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen; Amin, Kamal; Kolahi, Ali-Asghar
• Is Part Of: Women and birth. Volume 33:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: e117
• Page End: e121
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Maternal health services -- Pregnancy -- Prenatal care -- Prenatal diagnosis -- Refugees; Midwives -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1871-5192

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To assess the antenatal care utilisation among Syrian refugees in Tehran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2016 in Tehran. As the refugees live in the city, we used Respondent Driven Sampling method for finding participants. Data were collected from interviews by a newly graduated Syrian general practitioner. Findings: In total, 231 women participated in the study. The mean (standard deviation) number of antenatal care visits was 3.73 (1.41) and 131(56.7%) women received at least four visits. The mean (standard deviation) number of antenatal care visits was higher among women with four or more living children compared with those with four or more: 3.47 (1.35); 95% confidence interval 3.28 to 3.66 vs. 2.82 (1.64); 95% confidence interval 2.25 to 3.40, p = 0.01. The mean (standard deviation) number of antenatal care visits was higher among women whose spouses had academic degrees compared with those with lower education: 4.13 (1.37); 95% confidence interval 3.86–4.40 vs. 3.28 (1.31); 95% confidence interval 3.05–3.52, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Antenatal care utilisation of Syrian women in Tehran complied with neither national guidelines of Iran nor the recommendations of World Health Organization. However, antenatal care utilisation of Syrian women in Tehran was higher than the main destinations of Syrian refugees. Syrian women kept their own cultural behaviour in terms of antenatal care utilisation.