Objectives: To assess attitudes towards and perceptions about contraceptive use among married refugee women of Somali descent living in Finland. Method: A sample of 100 married refugee women of Somali descent (18-50 years of age) were invited to participate in a study on contraceptive use in Finland (30 women refused). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect the data. Questionnaire of the first data set was written in the Somali language. Interviews were conducted in the Somali language. Results: The attitudes and opinions of these women towards contraceptive use (73% did not use contraceptives, 27% did use them) were connected with religious beliefs and issues involving marital relations. Religious or gender issues did not seem to influence those who used contraception. Conclusions: The findings indicated that the majority of the married refugee women of Somali descent living in Finland did not use contraception. The process of starting the use of contraception was possible because of an access to good reproductive health care and family planning services, changes in life situations, and adaptations to Finnish social and cultural norms. © 2006 European Society of Contraception.

Attitudes Somali women Use of contraception Perceptions Finland

educational status lifestyle Finland refugee human middle aged controlled study priority journal religion marriage Humans attitude Adolescent female Contraception questionnaire contraceptive agent Article Questionnaires adult Somalia drug use patient attitude normal human Cultural Characteristics Contraception Behavior