Religious leaders' nuanced views on birth spacing and contraceptives in Sierra Leone - qualitative insights.
Birth spacing
Family planning
Leaders
Religious
Sierra Leone
Journal
Contraception and reproductive medicine
ISSN: 2055-7426
Titre abrégé: Contracept Reprod Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101703414
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
23 Aug 2024
23 Aug 2024
Historique:
received:
26
06
2024
accepted:
06
08
2024
medline:
24
8
2024
pubmed:
24
8
2024
entrez:
23
8
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Sierra Leone is a religiously diverse country, with Christianity and Islam being the dominant faiths. This religious landscape plays a significant role in shaping attitudes towards family planning and contraceptives. We examined religious leaders' knowledge of family planning and modern contraceptive methods. In September 2021, data was collected from 116 religious leaders in Sierra Leone, including 32 Muslims and 84 Christians from nine different denominations from sixteen districts, through 16 focus group discussions. The data was subjected to a thematic analysis using NVIVO 12 software. The study found a spectrum of opinions among religious leaders, both between religions (Christianity vs. Islam) and within denominations of Christianity. There was a general acceptance of natural birth spacing methods, like abstinence during fertile periods, across both Christian and Muslim leaders. Views on modern contraceptives were more divided. Catholics generally opposed them, citing religious doctrines against interfering with procreation. Pentecostals and some Muslims, however, found them permissible under certain circumstances, like promoting family well-being or spacing births for health reasons. The study reveals that religious leaders' views on family planning in Sierra Leone are multifaceted. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective family planning programs. By working with denominations that are more accepting of modern methods and leveraging the support for natural birth spacing methods across religions, there's potential to improve reproductive health outcomes in Sierra Leone.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Sierra Leone is a religiously diverse country, with Christianity and Islam being the dominant faiths. This religious landscape plays a significant role in shaping attitudes towards family planning and contraceptives. We examined religious leaders' knowledge of family planning and modern contraceptive methods.
METHODS
METHODS
In September 2021, data was collected from 116 religious leaders in Sierra Leone, including 32 Muslims and 84 Christians from nine different denominations from sixteen districts, through 16 focus group discussions. The data was subjected to a thematic analysis using NVIVO 12 software.
RESULTS
RESULTS
The study found a spectrum of opinions among religious leaders, both between religions (Christianity vs. Islam) and within denominations of Christianity. There was a general acceptance of natural birth spacing methods, like abstinence during fertile periods, across both Christian and Muslim leaders. Views on modern contraceptives were more divided. Catholics generally opposed them, citing religious doctrines against interfering with procreation. Pentecostals and some Muslims, however, found them permissible under certain circumstances, like promoting family well-being or spacing births for health reasons.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals that religious leaders' views on family planning in Sierra Leone are multifaceted. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective family planning programs. By working with denominations that are more accepting of modern methods and leveraging the support for natural birth spacing methods across religions, there's potential to improve reproductive health outcomes in Sierra Leone.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39180098
doi: 10.1186/s40834-024-00301-y
pii: 10.1186/s40834-024-00301-y
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
40Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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