THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUALITY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES OF SYRIAN WOMEN AND MEN IMMIGRATED TO HATAY-ANTAKYA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Objectives: The aim of this study is to comparatively present the knowledge and experiences about sexuality and the sexually transmitted infections in both the men and women migrating from Syria to the nearest province, Hatay-Antakya in Turkey, due to the ongoing internal conflicts in Syria. Materials and Methods: The study consists of in-depth interviews with 12 female and 12 male participants who had to migrate from Syria. In the research, using the qualitative method, the findings were interpreted using the descriptive analysis technique. Results: In consequence of the study, women and men were determined to have different knowledge levels on sexuality before marriage, especially women to have experienced it at first night after marriage and men to be more familiar with sexuality. To have a speech on sexuality and sex life before marriage is taboo, and it's keeping the "honor" under control for women. As they have not received sufficient education, they do not have enough information about sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Conclusion: As a result, girls having been forced to get married at an early age have sexual experiences prematurely; their inadequate knowledge and experience about sexuality, belief and cultural truths cause certain traumatic processes. The education provided to men and women on sexuality and awareness about STD should be raised.

PDF

___

1. Salloukh BF. The Arab Uprisings and the Geopolitics of the Middle East. The International Spectator. 2013;48(2):32-46. (doi:10.1080/03932729.2013.787830).
2. UNHCR. Syria regional refugee response [Internet]. https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria (Accessed:13.07.2019).
3. UNHCR. Internally displaced people [Internet]. https://www.unhcr.org/sy/internally-displaced-people (Accessed: 15.11.2021).
4. Syrians in Turkey. Special report [Internet]. https://www.ombudsman.gov.tr/syrians/special_report.pdf, (Accessed:18.05.2020).
5. Temporary Protection. [Internet]. https://en.goc.gov.tr/temporary-protection27 (Accessed:15.11 2021.
6. Ibrahim S, Philip LM. Sources of Irregularity and Managing Migration: The Case of Turkey. Border Crossing. Transnational Press London. 2014;4(1-2):1-16.
7. Maatouk I, Cristaudo A, Morrone A. Sexually Transmitted Infections and Migration. In: Morrone A, Hay R, Naafs B, ed. Skin Disorders in Migrants. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2020:129-37.
8. De Schrijver L, Vander Beken T, Krahé B, Keygnaert I. Prevalence of Sexual Violence in Migrants, Applicants for International Protection, and Refugees in Europe: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis of the Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018;15(9).1979:1-17 (doi: 10.3390/ijerph15091979).
9. Morawska E. Qualitative Migration Research: Viable Goals, Open-Ended Questions, and Multidimensional Answers. In: Zapata-Barrero R, Yalaz E, ed. Qualitative Research in European Migration Studies. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018:113-131.
10. Barglowski K. Where, What and Whom to Study? Principles, Guidelines and Empirical Examples of Case Selection and Sampling in Migration Research. In: Zapata-Barrero R, Yalaz E, ed. Qualitative Research in European Migration Studies. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018:151-168.
11. Fedyuk O, Zentai V. The Interview in Migration Studies: A Step towards a Dialogue and Knowledge Co-production? In: Zapata-Barrero R, Yalaz E, ed. Qualitative Research in European Migration Studies. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2018:171-188.
12. Costa GMC, Gualda DMR. Antropologia, etnografia e narrativa: caminhos que se cruzam na compreensão do processo saúde-doença [Anthropology, ethnography, and narrative: intersecting paths in understanding the processes of health and sickness]. Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos. 2010;17(4):925-937 (doi:10.1590/s0104-59702010000400005).
13. Ahmad M, Dardas L. Jordan: Aspiration for a culturally sensitive nursing model. In: Fitzpatrick JJ, Whall AL, ed. Conceptual models of nursing: Global perspectives. Vol 133805751. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson; 2016.
14. Metusela C, Ussher J, Perz J, Hawkey A, Morrow M, Narchal R, et al. "In My Culture, We Don't Know Anything About That": Sexual and Reproductive Health of Migrant and Refugee Women. Int J Behav Med 2017;24(6):836-845 (doi:10.1007/s12529-017-9662-3).
15. Botfield JR, Zwi AB, Rutherford A, Newman CE. Learning about sex and relationships among migrant and refugee young people in Sydney, Australia: 'I never got the talk about the birds and the bees'. Sex Educ-Sex Soc Lea 2018;18(6):705-720 (doi:10.1080/14681811.2018.1464905).
16. Kingori C, Ice GH, Hassan Q, Elmi A, Perko E. 'If I went to my mom with that information, I'm dead': sexual health knowledge barriers among immigrant and refugee Somali young adults in Ohio. Ethnic Health 2018;23(3):339-352 (doi:10.1080/13557858.2016.1263285).
17. DeJong J, Jawad R, Mortagy I, Shepard B. The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young People in the Arab Countries and Iran. Reprod Health Matter 2005;13(25):49-59 (doi:10.1016/S0968-8080(05)25181-9).
18. 18.RefugeesfromSyria.[Internet]. https://www.teslontario.org/uploads/news/RefugeesfromSyriabackgrounderCulturalOrientationReso.pdf (Accessed:15.11.2020).
19. Liu ZY, Li J, Hong Y and Yao L. Reproductive health service utilization and social determinants among married female rural-to-urban migrants in two metropolises, China. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci 2016;36(6):904-909 (doi:10.1007/s11596-016-1682-8).
20. Padovese V, Farrugia A, Almabrok Ali Ghath S, Rossoni I. Sexually transmitted infections' epidemiology and knowledge, attitude and practice survey in a set of migrants attending the sexual health clinic in Malta. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021;35(2):509-516 (doi:10.1111/jdv.16949).
21. Nybo M, Friis-Hansen L, Felding P,Milman N. Higher prevalence of anemia among pregnant immigrant women compared to pregnant ethnic Danish women. Ann Hematol. 2007;86(9):647-651 (doi:10.1007/s00277-007-0305-7).
22. Norris AH, Loewenberg Weisband Y, Wiles M, Ickovics JR. Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among Tanzanian migrants: a cross-sectional study. Int J STD AIDS 2017;28(10):991-1000 (doi:10.1177/0956462416685486).
23. Şimşek Z, Yentur Doni N, Gül Hilali N, Yildirimkaya G. A community-based survey on Syrian refugee women's health and its predictors in Şanliurfa, Turkey. Women Health 2018;58(6):617-31 (doi:10.1080/03630242.2017.1321609).
24. Al-Maharma D, Safadi R, Ahmad M, Halasa S, Nabolsi M, Dohrn J. Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Of Syrian Refugee Mothers Towards Sexually Transmitted Infections. Int J Womens Health 2019;11:607-15 (doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S221605).
25. Mumtaz GR, Hilmi N, Majed EZ, Abu-Raddad LJ. Characterising HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa: Systematic review and data synthesis. Glob Public Health September 2020;15(2):275-98 (doi:10.1080/17441692.2019.1668452).
26. Abedinia N, Rasoolinajad M, Noorbala A, Badie BM. I am HIV-positive, but I am a human being: qualitative study on experiences of stigma in health care centres in the Islamic Republic of Iran. E Mediterr Health J 2019;25(10):669-76 (doi.org/10.26719/emhj.19.012).
27. Can AR. Is HIV/AIDS a disease of poverty? Eurasian J Anth 2018;9(2):57-65.
28. World AIDS Day 2018. http://www.emro.who.int/world-aids-campaigns/wad2018/index.html. (Accessed: 01.05.2020).
29. Alan M. Oruç MA, Yılmaz N. Aytaç H. Sancı M, Alan Y. Evaluation Of Hpv Incıdence and Cervıcal Smear Results in Syrian Refugees. Ankara Med J 2020;(1):1-10 (doi: 10.5505/amj.2020.52296).