Religious leaders urged to engage in a collaborative framework with healthcare workers on SRH

Mombasa, Tuesday June 27, 2023

KNA by Fatuma Said

Religious leaders urged to engage in a collaborative framework with healthcare workers on SRH

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) has conducted a workshop aimed to collect and compile strategies from the society that will help religious leaders engage in programs that will promote dialogue between them, healthcare practitioners, and the youth on Sexual and Reproductive Health & Research (SRH).

Research and Policy Analyst at AFIDEP, John Mushimo said that a recent research they conducted in Kenya showed that religious leaders have a big influence on the health decisions that most women and youth make.

“We conducted research on the role of religion in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health decision-making in Mombasa and Wajir, and we interviewed religious leaders and young adults between the age of 18 and 24, both married and unmarried,” Mushomi said.

He said that they specifically wanted to know how young people engage with their faith and the influence of their teachings and beliefs in decision-making in reproductive health decisions and actions.

“Our key finding was that among the Muslim community, the teachings are consistent and the young people consult and engage with their faith when making such decisions,” Mushomi said.

Mushomi said that they noted the uniformity in response among the Muslim community that contraceptives are automatically forbidden because of the strict teaching of no sex before marriage hence are mainly used by married couples specifically for child spacing and health purposes.

Among the Christian Community at large, they analyzed that the role of religious leaders is very key and because the religion is straightforward and clear on the non-use of contraceptives young people do not seek the intervention hence making decisions that benefit their situations.

He added that from the research, most religious leaders requested to be trained on how to approach some of the realities that the people they lead go through daily.

“The Government and health care providers should have a collaborative framework with religious leaders as community gatekeepers because all these services work for the good of the people,” Mushimo added.

“Our Religious leaders should know that while our religions do not allow engaging in sexual activities before marriage, that has not stopped our youth from engaging, and for those who are engaging in it, is there any strategy to collaboratively support them either to be safer or to avoid the consequences that come with those actions?” he posed.

Sheik Mwinyi Ali, a member of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, said that religious leaders are getting more exposure to dealing with day-to-day issues affecting society.

“All these issues are well put in the Holy Quran and it is very important to be well informed about them and take them into consideration on how to go about them,” Ali said.

"Leaders should analyze situations and comprehend what is needed instead of forbidding everything without looking into the matter properly," Ali added.

He also advocated for religious leaders and teachers to undergo training and attend workshops, and seminars to acquire the needed knowledge to handle such situations and break the stigma of talking about this issue with the youth.

Ali encouraged women not to feel shy or fear condemnation as he encouraged them to seek contraceptive methods that would work best for them.

Rev. Sylvina Lwembe, a member of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, affirmed Mwinyi's sentiments, stating that things have changed, and people should adapt to situations.

"We have come to a time that forces us to teach and sensitize our young girls on the importance of contraceptive methods for their safety and well-being,” Lwembe said, and asked all religious leaders to be positive and treat this issue with a positive mind.

She also acknowledged that most people avoid these methods due to the teachings they receive from their religious leaders.

Assistant Mombasa County Commissioner, Irene Munyoki said that the research conducted by AFIDEP showed that while most women are taking contraceptives despite the different teachings from religion for their own health and financial and economic benefit, some are also not using in fear of their religious teachings and beliefs.

Some of the recommendations gathered from the workshop included training religious leaders on Sexual and Reproductive health & Research (SRH), Sensitization of SRH in religious institutions, the collaborative framework between the government, healthcare workers, and religious leaders, and more sensitization of usage of contraceptives in schools.

The research analysis brought to a conclusion the need for religious leaders to be brought on board and educated on this issue to prevent issues of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young people.

Courtesy ; K. N. A