FACTORS AFFECTING FAMILY PLANNING USAGE AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN IDLIB PROVINCE, SYRIA

Abstract

The prolonged conflict in Syria has severely disrupted the country’s health coverage system, disproportionately affecting women and children. Strengthening family planning services is essential to saving lives, reducing poverty, and promoting education and self-reliance. The aim of the study is to access the factors affecting family planning usage among married women in Idlib province, Syria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 315 married women aged 15–49 in Idlib between November and December 2022. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through in-person interviews and the Kobo Survey platform. Overall, 51.1% of participants reported using contraceptive methods, primarily intrauterine devices and the lactation amenorrhea method. Many respondents had had children before, were in monogamous marriages, and showed moderate decision-making autonomy. The study highlighted service gaps: 58.4% had not discussed family planning with health workers, and only 41.9% had received health education. Multivariate analysis identified significant predictors of family planning use, including age (notably women aged 40–44), birth history, having 1–3 female children, and the ease of obtaining contraceptives. The findings highlighted the interplay of social-demographic factors and access to health care to ensure the usage of family is adopted even in constrained resource settings.