Within a Muslim milieu, Islam is not merely a religion; it is also a social system, a culture, and a civilization. The teachings of Islam have values, ideals, and goals that regulate moral behavior, social interaction, and relations. Islam grants due consideration to matters of healthcare and one aspect of healthcare provision is maternal health for delivering mothers. The chapter examines how family planning influences the maternal health care of Somali refugee women of Dadaab refugee camps in Garissa County, Kenya. Through the use of secondary and tertiary sources, the chapter shows that Islamic teachings could be used either to promote family planning or to oppose it altogether. The chapter demonstrates that due to Islamic teachings and Somali culture, majority of the Somali Muslims are opposed to family planning. Opposition to family planning has implications on the maternal health of Somali Muslim women. This is apparent in the perceived fear that expectant mothers who deliver in hospitals could be subjected to family planning contraceptives. Thus, Somali Muslim women of Dadaab refugee camps prefer the services of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to hospitals. The findings therefore lead to the conclusion that family planning practices influence the maternal health care of Somali Muslims of Dadaab refugee camps. To align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5, and 6, there is need for more participatory role in training and sensitization of the Somali community through the religious leaders on the benefits of child spacing.

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Family Planning and Maternal Health Care Among Somali Refugee Women of Dadaab, Kenya

  • Newton Kahumbi Maina

摘要

Within a Muslim milieu, Islam is not merely a religion; it is also a social system, a culture, and a civilization. The teachings of Islam have values, ideals, and goals that regulate moral behavior, social interaction, and relations. Islam grants due consideration to matters of healthcare and one aspect of healthcare provision is maternal health for delivering mothers. The chapter examines how family planning influences the maternal health care of Somali refugee women of Dadaab refugee camps in Garissa County, Kenya. Through the use of secondary and tertiary sources, the chapter shows that Islamic teachings could be used either to promote family planning or to oppose it altogether. The chapter demonstrates that due to Islamic teachings and Somali culture, majority of the Somali Muslims are opposed to family planning. Opposition to family planning has implications on the maternal health of Somali Muslim women. This is apparent in the perceived fear that expectant mothers who deliver in hospitals could be subjected to family planning contraceptives. Thus, Somali Muslim women of Dadaab refugee camps prefer the services of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to hospitals. The findings therefore lead to the conclusion that family planning practices influence the maternal health care of Somali Muslims of Dadaab refugee camps. To align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5, and 6, there is need for more participatory role in training and sensitization of the Somali community through the religious leaders on the benefits of child spacing.