Turkey has a young population of close to 85 million, the country’s child population outweighs the older population 2:1. It scores 55.7% on the 2020 atlas, placing it in the yellow category. This is composed of a lower score for policies related to supplies and counselling (47%) and a higher score for the availability of online information (71.4%). Access to supplies is hindered by little reimbursement and no special reimbursements for young people or vulnerable groups. Access to affordable consultation is average but those seeking services or products need third-party consent and marital status remains a barrier to access contraceptives. Nevertheless, Turkey manages to raise the his score with prescription free emergency and hormonal contraception. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate for is therefore rather low at 33% among all and 49% for married women. There is still unmet need for family planning in the country (7-10%). The favourable score for online information is thanks to a government integrated website with many contraceptives listed and good information on their prices. Turkey scored additional points for a user-friendly and aesthetic web design.
Recommendations:
- Turkey should improve the information provided on its website on costs and access for contraceptives and for the multiple minorities in the country, it is paramount that the information is also made available in minority languages (e.g. including Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Laz, Kurdish, Zazaki, Ladino, Neo-Aramaic).
- The Turkish government needs to focus on creating reimbursement schemes for contraception for all women of reproductive age, ensuring that vulnerable groups and adolescents are covered. To enable equal access and integrity, access should not be linked to third-party consent.
- Due to the persisting unmet need, counselling and access to information must always go hand in hand with destigmatisation and demystification of contraception. To achieve success, it is crucial to encourage better SRHR education from an early age, as well as improved training for health care providers.
Breakdown by Criteria
Policies related to supplies and counselling
- Reimbursement
✔️Reimbursement within the national health system
❌Special reimbursement for adolescents (until 19)
❌Special Reimbursement for vulnerable groups (unemployed/low income)
- Counselling
✔️Available, accessible, and affordable consultation
❌No need for third-party consent
❌Legal status (marital, citizenship) is not a barrier
- Prescription requirements
✔️Availability of emergency contraception without prescription
✔️Availability of self-administered hormonal contraception without prescription
Availability of online information
- Type of online information
Website provided by government-supported integrated website
✔️Number of contraceptives - excellent
✔️Info on costs of contraceptives
✔️Info on where to get contraceptives
- User friendliness
❌Regional or minority language included
✔️Web design
✔️Discoverability of the website
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