Involving mosques in health promotion programmes: a qualitative exploration of the MCLASS intervention on smoking in the home

Abstract

Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is high among UK Bangladeshi and Pakistani populations, reflecting higher male smoking prevalence and fewer home smoking restrictions than the general population. The Muslim Communities Learning About Second-hand Smoke (MCLASS) study explored the feasibility and acceptability of implementing SHS education in 14 UK mosques. Religious teachers (RTs) in seven intervention mosques were trained and provided with a culturally appropriate educational package. After the intervention, mosque leaders, RTs and congregants’ experiences and perceptions of the intervention were explored through interviews and focus group discussions. Delivery of the intervention varied across mosques. Facilitators and barriers included: mosque diversity (congregation size, organizational structure, educational activities, women’s role and involvement); degree of trust between researchers and personnel; and views on SHS. Most participants thought mosques’ involvement in SHS health promotion was appropriate, but the perceived importance of SHS differed. We found that a health promotion programme delivered within Islamic religious settings that engages RTs in the process of facilitation, can be acceptable and feasible, but care must be taken to explore the culture and ethos of the institution, including its organizational structure, management committee, RTs and congregation.

Fathers’ Views and Experiences of Creating a Smoke-Free Home: A Scoping Review

“…A second approach that has shown initial promise is currently being trialled in Bangladesh to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based intervention to reduce SHS exposure at home, primarily targeting men via mosques [48]. This cluster RCT is based on the findings of a pilot trial that concluded that a smoke-free home intervention was acceptable to Muslim communities, and feasible to deliver in mosques [49,50]. If found to be effective in changing smoking behaviour in the home, this approach could be generalizable to other communities with similar male smoking norms where faith-based settings (i.e., churches, mosques, synagogues) play an integral part in their lives [48].…”

Organ donation and transplant: The Islamic perspective

“…Mosques are often places of education for many Muslims, and mosque‐based health education and promotion can be an acceptable and influential means of facilitating positive health behavior change . A mosque‐based intervention to increase exercise levels of South Asian Muslim women in Ontario found an increase in activity levels and self‐efficacy post‐intervention .…”

Mapping the Process and the Resources that are Needed to Implement A Praziquantel Mass Drug Administration Program for Children Aged Five Years Old and Below in Resource Limited Settings.

“…Children who are not enrolled in ECD centres can be invited to be part of the MDA program. Faith-based establishments such as churches and mosques are used for healthcare programs in some resource limited settings [57,58] and could be used to mobilize people to enrol their under ve children in the schistosomiasis control MDA program [59,60]. Faith-based establishments could also be used as treatment sites for the MDA program.…”