Family planning in displaced populations: an unmet need among Iraqis in Amman, Jordan

Studies have been done to characterize primary "urgent" health needs in displaced populations; few studies have explored specifically family planning (FP) needs.

To investigates the hypothesis that there exists an unmet need for FP among Iraqi nationals in Amman, Jordan.

Married Iraqi individuals attending seven nongovernmental organization clinics were asked a subset of survey questions to ascertain FP health needs and access.

16.1 percent (n = 76) of respondents reported need for FP services, of which 16 percent (n = 397) report having access to FP counseling, and 43 percent (n = 33) had access to contraceptives. After 30 years of age, need for FP decreased yearly 12 percent (OR = 0.88, CI = 0.84-0.92, p = 0.00). After one year of living in Amman, Jordan, the odds of needing FP services increases yearly 13 percent (OR = 1.13, CI = 1.05-1.22, p = 0.001). In addition, if the respondent has one or more children younger than 5 years in the same household, the odds of needing FP services increases by 85 percent (OR = 1.85, CI = 1.0-3.44, p = 0.05).

This study illustrates a clear unmet need in FP services among Iraqis in Amman, Jordan, especially among the long-term displaced.