Significant effects of Fatwa-based perception on contraceptive practice among Muslim women in south Jordan under the early stage of fertility transition

Factors influencing sexual and reproductive health of Muslim women: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

In Islamic societies, issues related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are rarely discussed and considered sensitive subjects. This review aimed to identify any personal, religious, cultural, or structural barriers to SRH service and education among Muslim women worldwide.

METHODS

A search for qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted on seven electronic databases. A narrative synthesis using thematic analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine studies were included from 22 countries: 19 qualitative, 38 quantitative and two mixed methods. Many Muslim women have poor SRH knowledge, and negative attitudes which influence their access to, and use of SRH services. Barriers to contraception use among Muslim women included a lack of basic reproductive knowledge, insufficient knowledge about contraception, misconceptions, and negative attitudes. Women had negative attitudes towards family planning for limiting the number of children but not for child spacing, which reflected religious views towards family planning. Religious and cultural beliefs were barriers to contraception use and access to SRH services and information. Family and the community have a significant impact on women's contraceptive use and access to SRH services. Husband and family opposition played a significant role in contraception access and use. Fear of stigmatization and being labelled as having pre-marital sexual relations among unmarried women acted as the main barrier to accessing contraception and seeking SRH information and services.

CONCLUSION

The findings reveal that there are multiple levels of factors that influence Muslim women's SRH. Poor SRH knowledge and practices among Muslim women is complex matter that is affected by personal, community, cultural, religious factors and existing policies and regulations. All these factors overlap and are affected by each other. There is an urgent need for interventions addressing modifiable barriers to SRH education and services to improve knowledge, informed choice and access to services to facilitate better sexual and reproductive wellbeing for Muslim women. It is important to note that while this review aimed to report findings on Muslim women, we acknowledge that significant variations exist within every culture and religion.

Friday sermons, family planning and gender equity attitudes and actions: evidence from Jordan

BACKGROUND

To assess the effects of a communication intervention designed to enhance Jordanian religious leaders' (RLs) communication about family health.

METHODS

Programmatic effects on RLs were evaluated with a panel study design; 245 male and 145 female RLs participated in both baseline and end-line surveys in 2011. To assess effects on mosque attendees, a nonequivalent, post-intervention only with control group design was utilized; 431 intervention and 426 control respondents were interviewed in 2012.

RESULTS

Although RLs in the intervention site reported higher levels of preaching and teaching about the family health topics at end line than at baseline, their congregants were no more likely than control congregants to report having heard such messages over the previous 6-month period, contrary to the anticipated outcome. Yet, intervention congregants compared with controls were more likely to take action related to the topics to which they were exposed.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the mixed findings, intervention mosque goers who recalled messages were more likely to report taking relevant actions. These findings suggest that trained RLs compared with their counterparts were more effective in message dissemination. Thus, the findings support broader implementation of this type of intervention once the programmatic changes recommended in this article are made.

Religious leaders gain ground in the Jordanian family-planning movement

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of a training program designed to enhance the role of Muslim religious leaders (RLs) in promoting family welfare, including reproductive health generally and family planning more specifically.

METHODS

A panel study design was utilized; 136 and 115 RLs completed the self-administered questionnaires at baseline (pre-training) and endline (6 months post-training), respectively. Scales were generated to assess RLs' knowledge of the number of family-planning methods deemed to be acceptable according to Islamic teachings (9 methods, Cronbach α=0.85), attitudes toward family planning (7 statements, Cronbach α=0.67), and preaching and/or counseling on family-planning topics (7 topics, Cronbach α=0.85).

RESULTS

Linear regressions controlling for sex, age, and educational attainment showed that, on average, RLs cited more methods deemed acceptable according to Islamic teachings (β=1.381; P<0.001), expressed more positive attitudes toward family planning (β=0.514; P<0.05), and preached and/or counseled on family-planning topics more frequently at endline compared with baseline (β=0.965; P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Culturally appropriate training for RLs can lead to a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, reproductive health and family planning, with the effects manifesting as increased preaching and/or counseling about these important topics.

Empowerment in family planning as viewed by Iranian women: a qualitative study

Women carry the primary responsibility for family planning in most parts of the world, and should be afforded the power of decision-making and control over their fertility. This study seeks to gain insight into Iranian women's perception of the meaning of empowerment in family planning. Using a qualitative study, seven focus group discussions and five individual interviews were conducted with 35 married Iranian women of reproductive age. The data were analysed using a conventional content analysis approach, in which themes and categories were explored to reveal women's experiences of empowerment in family planning. The results demonstrated four main categories: control over fertility plan, participative family planning, maintaining health and access to optimal family planning services. They viewed knowledge of family planning and autonomy of decision-making in fertility issues as essential elements for control of their fertility plan. Participants felt more empowered when joint family planning decisions were made with their partners in an atmosphere of agreement. Therefore, family planning policymakers should plan services with new approaches that focus on women's health and empowerment.