Harmful traditional health practices used by Syrian refugee women in Turkey

The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the traditional health practices used by Syrian refugee women in Turkey.

A survey was carried out among Syrian refugee women in the Turkish province of Hatay, which has experienced heavy immigration. The study sample consisted of 75 married Syrian women over the age of 18. Questionnaires were completed during face-to-face interviews and took approximately 60 min.

All the women (100%) reported using a traditional health method in pregnancy; almost all had used a traditional health method during childbirth and the postpartum period (both 98.7%), and to treat a vaginal infection (92.0%) and induce an abortion (93.3%); most used a traditional method of contraception (85.3%).

Some of the reported known and used methods are harmless or beneficial to women's health. Some, however, can negatively affect women's health in terms of infection, bleeding and toxicity. In order to eliminate potentially harmful traditional health practices, it is recommended that Syrian refugee women receive health education.