The Syrian conflict has displaced five million individuals outside their country with Lebanon hosting the largest numbers per capita. Around 24% of Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon are women of reproductive age (15–49). Yet, a better understanding of the sexual and reproductive health needs of Syrian refugee women in Lebanon is required to improve provided services. Eleven focus group discussions were conducted in four regions of Lebanon with 108 Syrian refugee women of reproductive age. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. Interviewed women were mainly adults. They believed that, in Lebanon, they were subjected to early marriage compared to the norm in Syria due to their financial situation and uncertainty. Cost was reported as the main barrier to use contraception in Lebanon but some Syrian refugee women were not aware of free services covering sexual and reproductive health. In general, marriage, pregnancy, and family planning behavior of Syrian refugee women in Lebanon slightly differed from those in Syria pre-conflict in terms of age of marriage, conception subsequent to marriage, and contraception method. Hence, interventions to increase awareness of subsidized sexual and reproductive health services, including free contraceptives at primary health care centers, and those targeting protection from early marriage of Syrian refugee women in Lebanon are strongly recommended. © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Refugee health Adolescent marriage Barriers to healthcare War Refugees marriage Public health reproductive health Lebanon Adolescents Conflict Syria

refugee cost Syrian Arab Republic human Refugees middle aged financial deficit statistics and numerical data controlled study qualitative research interview marriage Young Adult Lebanon womens status Humans Adolescent female Contraception adolescence qualitative analysis pregnancy sexual health women's health Article health care uncertainty thematic analysis Syrian conflict management adult military phenomena Syria Reproductive Health health center contraceptive behavior family planning health care need womens health