Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##

Research Article

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2020)

Perceived reproductive health needs among Muslim women in the southern US

DOI
https://doi.org/10.26443/mjm.v18i1.177
Submitted
June 29, 2020
Published
2020-11-21

Abstract

Despite growing rates of Muslims in the United States, we know little about the health of Muslim women in this country. Due to the stigma surrounding sex, sexuality, and the cultural beliefs of this population, there may be unique and unknown challenges regarding access to reproductive health care for Muslims in the US. Purpose: This study aims to examine variables that promote and impede access to reproductive health care for Muslim women in the southern US. Methods: This multi-method study included in-person semi-structured interviews (n=15) and an anonymous online survey (n=76). Findings: Participants generally had low rates of gynecological care and cervical cancer screening. The cultural (e.g. waiting for marriage to receive gynecological care) and contextual aspects (e.g. gender) that increased or restricted access to care in terms of screening, providers and education are discussed. We also identified some misconceptions related to screening and contraception. Conclusions: Influences on reproductive health care experienced by participants in this study have similarities yet are distinct from Muslim populations in other countries as well as other groups of women in the US. This study points to a need for more population-focused education of providers, as well as awareness about reproductive health and health care recommendations and access for Muslim women.

References

  1. Pew Research. Demographic portrait of Muslim Americans Washington, DC: Pew Research; 2017 [Available from: https://www.pewforum.org/2017/07/26/demographic-portrait-of-muslim-americans/.
  2. Padela A, Zaidi D. The Islamic tradition and health inequities: A preliminary conceptual model based on a systematic literature review of Muslim health-care disparities.(Original Article). Avicenna Journal of Medicine. 2018;8(1):1.
  3. Laird LD, Amer MM, Barnett ED, Barnes LL. Muslim patients and health disparities in the UK and the US. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2007;92(10):922.
  4. Budhwani H, Anderson J, Hearld KR. Muslim Women’s use of contraception in the United States. Journal of Reproductive Health. 2018;15(1):1.
  5. Greenswood. U.S. Muslims Concerned About Their Place in Society, but Continue to Believe in theAmerican Dream: Pew Research Center; 2017 [Available from: http://www.pewforum.org/2017/07/26/ndings-from-pewresearch-centers-2017-survey-of-us-muslims/.
  6. Tackett S, Young JH, Putman S, Wiener C, Deruggiero K, Bayram JD. Barriers to healthcare among Muslim women: A narrative review of the literature. Women's Studies International Forum. 2018;69:190-4.
  7. Padela A, Murrar S, Adviento B, Liao C, Hosseinian Z, Peek M, et al. Associations Between Religion-Related Factors and Breast Cancer Screening Among American Muslims. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2015;17(3):660-9.
  8. Ali NS. Providing culturally sensitive care to Egyptians with cancer. Cancer practice. 1996;4(4):212-5.
  9. Matin M, Lebaron S. Attitudes Toward Cervical Cancer Screening Among Muslim Women: A Pilot Study. Women & Health. 2004;39(3):63-77.
  10. Samari G. Islamophobia and Public Health in the United States. American journal of public health. 2016;106(11):1920-5.
  11. Padela A, Raza A. American Muslim health disparities: the state of the Medline literature. Journal of Health Disparities Research Practice. 2014;8(1):1.
  12. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. State-by-state hate crime laws. Washington, DC: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; 2017.
  13. Southern Poverty Law Center. Hate map by ideology Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center; n.d. [Available from: https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map/by-ideology.
  14. Aday LA, Andersen R. A framework for the study of access to medical care. Health services research. 1974;9(3):208.
  15. Higgs ZR, Bayne T, Murphy D. Health care access: A consumer perspective. Public Health Nursing. 2001;18(1):3-12.
  16. Dedoose. Dedoose: Home n.d. [Available from: http://dedoose.com/.
  17. Thomas DR. A General Inductive Approach for Analyzing Qualitative Evaluation Data. American Journal of Evaluation. 2006;27(2):237-46.
  18. Jones J, Mosher WD, Daniels K. Current contraceptive use in the United States, 2006-2010, and change in patterns of use since 1995. National Health Statistical Report. 2012;60:1-25.
  19. Sahu B, Hutter I. ‘Lived Islam’ in India and Bangladesh: negotiating religion to realise reproductive aspirations. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 2012;14(5):521-35.
  20. Sheikh A, Gatrad AR, editors. Caring for Muslim patients. 2nd ed. ed. Oxford: Radcliffe; 2009.
  21. Hoffmann DE, Tarzian AJ. The girl who cried pain: a bias against women in the treatment of pain. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 2001;28:13-27.
  22. Berkley KJ, McAllister SL. Don’t dismiss dysmenorrhea! PAIN. 2011;152(9):1940-1.
  23. Bonham VL. Race, ethnicity, and pain treatment: Striving to understand the causes and solutions to the disparities in pain treatment. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 2001;28:52-68.
  24. Hoffman KM, Trawalter S, Axt JR, Oliver MN. Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2016;113(16):4296-301.
  25. Vu M, Azmat A, Radejko T, Padela AI. Predictors of delayed healthcare seeking among American Muslim women. Journal of Women's Health. 2016;25(6):586-93.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.