65. UNRWA. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey of Palestinian Refugee Women in the West Bank. 1993, 40 pp.

A client-based KAP survey was conducted to determine which types of maternal health services are needed. This survey will also serve as a baseline from which to monitor progress. The sample consisted of 988 ever-married refugee women between the ages of 15 and 44 attending UNRWA clinics in the West Bank. Interviews were conducted during the women's visit to the clinic covering the following topics: 1) respondent's background, 2) maternity status, 3) birth history, 4) maternal health services, and 5) family planning. Results show that more than 98% of the participants were currently married. The mean educational attainment was 8.7 years of schooling. Only 4.4% of the women reported working outside the home. Over 95% of the women approved of family planning. Among currently married women non-pregnant women, 45.2% are currently using a contraceptive method. Of these 23.1% are using the IUD; 2.9% are using oral contraceptives; 1.1% are using the condom; 10.7% are using withdrawal; and 5.2% are using the rhythm method. Of the 634 women who already had at least one child, 41.0% stated that they do not want any more children. The total marital fertility rate of the sample was 9550 per thousand during 1992, indicating that an average of 9.6 children would be born to a married woman during her life time. This is in sharp contrast to the respondents' desired family size of 5.5 children. Over 97% of the sample had some knowledge of contraceptive methods such as the IUD and oral contraceptives. This indicates a large gap between actual practice and self-reported knowledge and attitudes. Ninety-nine percent of all the women received some antenatal care during their last pregnancy. Of the recent births, 72.8% were delivered in hospitals. Based on the results the authors make several conclusion. Among others these include: encouraging the use of more effective methods among couples; encouraging the use of other methods such as the condom; emphasizing continuity of care despite the already high rate of use of UNRWA's antenatal services; and continue to implement family planning programs in order to empower women and men to exercise responsibility in the number and spacing of their children.