Family Planning as A Determining Factor in Preference to Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) Among Somali Community in Dadaab Refugee Camps, Kenya

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Date
2021Author
Maina, Newton Kahumbi
Gitome, Josephine
Bagelman, Jennifer
Mainah, Muthoni
Kituku, Jacqueline M.
Mwoma, Teresa
Ndegwa, Priscilla
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— Statement of Problem: Family planning is a
determining factor in the maternal health care choices for
Somali pregnant mothers in Dadaab Refugee camps. Research
has revealed that during delivery, the Somali mothers prefer the
services of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to those of
midwives in hospitals. The preference for TBAs is borne of the
belief that when women deliver in hospitals, they could be
subjected to family planning against their will. The contention is
that Islam and socio-cultural practices of the Somali community
do not advocate family planning. The purpose of this paper is to
discuss Islam’s position on family planning in order to explain
the response of the Somalis of Dadaab refugee camps on family
planning. Methodology & Theoretical orientation: The paper is
derived from a qualitative study that involved snowball
sampling, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions
(FGDs). These methods brought out family planning as a
determining factor in the mother’s choice of TBAs as opposed to
hospital midwives in Dadaab Refugee camps. Findings: Any
discourse on Islam and family planning offers two perspectives:
proponents of family planning and opponents of family
planning. Both perspectives use the texts of the Qur’an and
Hadith (traditions) and different interpretations to justify and
support their respective positions and opinions. Through
primary and secondary sources, the paper interrogates both
perspectives of family planning in Islam. Conclusion &
Significance: It is concluded that the Somalis’ belief on family
planning is informed by the two perspectives of family planning,
but the opponents’ perspective holds sway. This determines the
preference for TBAs for fear that mothers who deliver in
hospitals could be subjected to family planning contraceptives.
Recommendation: there is need to educate the community
further on Islamic teachings on family planning; and more
sensitization conducted on the benefits of child spacing
URI
https://ej-social.org/index.php/ejsocial/article/view/126/50http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/22974