The ongoing conflict in Syria since 2011 has led to severe consequences for the health system, particularly for sexual and reproductive health services. Systematic attacks on health facilities and forced displacement due to aerial bombardments have had a tremendous impact on access to healthcare services.
Disruption of essential healthcare services and the rise in sexual violence during emergencies have deemed the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) a fundamental intervention with a significant reduction of maternal and newborn deaths and associated complications. Despite women’s reproductive rights, providing family planning services for populations in conflict and humanitarian settings is still challenging. Understanding community perceptions, sociocultural norms, and barriers to utilizing services are crucial for identifying family planning needs, in addition to developing key strategies to provide reproductive and family planning services that maintain respect and understanding of beliefs and cultural norms.
An assessment of family planning in NW Syria
The ongoing conflict in Syria since 2011 has led to severe consequences for the health system, particularly for sexual and reproductive health services. Systematic attacks on health facilities and forced displacement due to aerial bombardments have had a tremendous impact on access to healthcare services.
Disruption of essential healthcare services and the rise in sexual violence during emergencies have deemed the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) a fundamental intervention with a significant reduction of maternal and newborn deaths and associated complications. Despite women’s reproductive rights, providing family planning services for populations in conflict and humanitarian settings is still challenging. Understanding community perceptions, sociocultural norms, and barriers to utilizing services are crucial for identifying family planning needs, in addition to developing key strategies to provide reproductive and family planning services that maintain respect and understanding of beliefs and cultural norms.