title: Seeking maternal care at times of conflict: the case of Lebanon.
abstract: Providing quality maternity care within the emergency care packages for internally displaced populations in war-affected areas is somewhat challenging, although very essential. In this retrospective study, we describe the experiences and health care seeking behaviors of 1,015 pregnant and postpartum women during the 2006 war in Lebanon. Women reported interruptions in regular maternity care and experienced more complications during this period. Availability of health services and experiences of complications were the most important determinants of health care seeking behaviors. Maternal health services should be a part of any comprehensive emergency responsiveness plan, catering to women's needs in war-affected areas.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion and Community Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. tk00@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kabakian-Khasholian
authors.forename: Rawan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shayboub
authors.forename: Faysal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El-Kak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007861:Lebanon; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012036:Refugees; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult