Muslim Women’s use of contraception in the United States

Abstract

Background: American Muslim women are an understudied population; thus, significant knowledge gaps exist related to their most basic health behaviors and indicators. Considering this, we examined American Muslim women's contraception utilization patterns. Methods: Self-reported data collected in late 2015 were analyzed. Women who identified as Muslim, were at least 18 years old, sexually active, and current residents of the United States (n = 224) met the inclusion criteria. Convenience sampling was employed. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated associations between demographics, marital status, ethnicity, nativity, health insurance, religious practice, and contraception use. Results: Identifying as Muslim, in general, was significantly associated with greater odds of using contraception in general and condoms compared to American Muslim women who identify as Sunni. Identifying as Shia was associated with greater odds of using oral contraceptive pills relative to Sunni respondents. South Asian ethnicity was associated with higher odds of using oral contraceptive pills compared to those of Middle Eastern or North African ethnicity. Conclusions: Findings suggest American Muslim women's contraception utilization patterns share certain similarities with both American women in general and disadvantaged racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States, implying that factors that influence American Muslim women's use of contraceptives are possibly countervailing and likely multifaceted. More research is needed to accurately identify associates of contraceptive use in this population. This work serves as a starting point for researchers and practitioners seeking to better understand reproductive health decision in this understudied population.

Behaviors and Risks for Cardiovascular Disease Among Muslim Women in the United States

“…Prior research indicates that examining Islam as a cultural paradigm is beneficial in that, this culture influences both health behaviors and health risks. 6 , 7 Considering the overarching goals of public health and medicine are to first, do no harm, and second, to improve overall population health, more thoughtful research on populations that are hard to reach due to being stigmatized, is urgently needed to better inform healthcare policy, clinical practice, and public health prevention efforts.…”

“…1 , 4 , 5 Muslim Americans are an understudied population that is difficult to reach due to a range of factors that include this group's experiences with ongoing stigma and discrimination. 6 , 7 Regardless, it is still imperative that clinicians, policy makers, and public health practitioners understand and identify ways to improve this population's health and well-being, particularly considering the countervailing forces that could influence health behaviors. 6 , 7 Prior studies on Muslim Americans have focused on mental health, stigma, and sociopolitical measures.…”

“… 6 , 7 Regardless, it is still imperative that clinicians, policy makers, and public health practitioners understand and identify ways to improve this population's health and well-being, particularly considering the countervailing forces that could influence health behaviors. 6 , 7 Prior studies on Muslim Americans have focused on mental health, stigma, and sociopolitical measures. 7–10 Few studies have examined preventative health behaviors and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in Muslim Americans, with even fewer evaluating these conditions in American Muslim women.…”

When, where and who? Accessing health facility delivery care from the perspective of women and men in Tanzania: a qualitative study

“…Since 2000, there has been an increasing emphasis on humanizing the childbirth process, which occurs when women are provided care in a way that respects their rights as human beings and provides sufficient and adequate care throughout the whole birth process, involving them as active agents and capable of making decisions [ 9 – 11 ]. The need for respectful maternal care was recognized as an essential component of the recently updated recommendations for intrapartum care and safe childbirth by the World Health Organization [ 12 ].…”

Knowledge, attitude, and use of oral contraceptive pills among Saudi women seen at the primary care clinics of Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…The use of contraceptives and even contraception has been scantly publicized. A report suggested that Muslim women use of contraception is not significantly different from non-Muslim women in the United States [14] . However, that particular study stressed the need to further accurately identify factors and correlated pertaining to contraception and the use of OCPs among Muslim women.…”