I. Background: This study aims to understand patterns of care-seeking behavior and provider choice in women’s self-reporting health and reproductive health conditions in three urban communities around Beirut, by examining contextual parameters of each community, and the symptomatology of health and reproductive health problems.

II. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a sub-population sample of 2,816 households distributed in the three communities was interviewed face-face. Analysis was done using multinomial logistic regression

III. Results: Women in the refugee camp community had the highest utilization of services (73%), and mostly used subsidized services (61%). In the other two communities more women utilized private services. For gender preference, in one community, male providers were more preferred for general health problems, while female providers were more preferred for reproductive health problems. Regarding health-seeking behavior and choice of provider - in the two out of the three communities - women living with very low/low income, with new cases of morbidity, and with very serious or serious morbidity cases are significantly more likely to use subsidized health services for their general health problems, while women with zero parity, covered by health insurance, and with very serious morbidity cases are significantly more likely to use private services for their reproductive health problems.

IV. Implications: Beyond the individual perception and reporting, realization of contextual parameters of each community is necessary to sustain and promote quality health care, in addition to considering the private health sector in planning and implementing health care.