Maternal mortality rates in Palestine refugees in Jordan increased by 16% between 2013 and 2016. Action is needed to prevent future maternal deaths. Risk factors for maternal mortality are a young mother (below 20 years of age) and pregnancies that are close together (interval of less than 18 months), which can be prevented through the use of contraception. Contraceptive discontinuation rates increased among Palestine refugees in Jordan by 3% between 2015 and 2016. Sociocultural factors are important in access to contraception. This study assesses sociocultural barriers and opportunities to accessing contraception among Palestine refugees in Jordan.

Methods

Focus group discussions were conducted in June, 2017, with female and male patients and health-care workers in rural and urban communities in Jordan. Patients were selected using opportunistic sampling at health centres; health centres and health-care workers were selected using purposive sampling. Only participants who signed the informed consent form were included. Discussions were moderated by a local researcher, tape-recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed with MaxQDA. Analysis was conducted by two researchers independently using predetermined and emergent themes. Approval was obtained from the UNRWA Ethics Office.

Findings

12 discussions were conducted with 84 participants, seven participants per discussion; 40 females, 27 males, and 17 health workers with an age range of 18–67 years. Perceived barriers to accessing or using contraception included husband or family-in-law opposition to contraception use; preferences in terms of the sex of children; pride in having many children; fear of infertility; incorrect use of contraception; a lack of health-care workers to provide contraception; reluctance of staff to provide contraception to females without spousal consent; and costs involved in using contraception. Perceived benefits included the financial advantage of a smaller family; and birth spacing for women’s mental and physical health.

Interpretation

Despite the use of opportunistic sampling, this study shows that both sociocultural barriers and benefits to accessing contraception exist for Palestine refugees in Jordan. More resources are needed to improve access by further researching sociocultural dynamics related to contraception use.