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Family planning, Islam and sin: Understandings of moral actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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  • Ataullahjan, Anushka
  • Mumtaz, Zubia
  • Vallianatos, Helen

Abstract

Pakistan, with a population of over 207 million, is the sixth most populous country in the world. Yet, only 25% of eligible couples' report using a modern contraceptive method. A large body of literature indicates the existence of a widely-held perception among Pakistanis that family planning use is a sin, which is then often cited as evidence that Islamic beliefs impede contraceptive use (see Agha, 2010; Ali and Ushijima, 2005; Azmat, 2011; Zafar et al., 2003). We argue that this body of literature, which has relied primarily on quantitative measures and survey methodology, is highly reductive. Missing from this discourse is a nuanced analysis of how individuals engage with their Islamic beliefs to make fertility decisions. Drawing on 13 months of ethnographic data, our findings demonstrate that despite most of our respondents overwhelmingly believing that family planning use was a sin, many had, at some stage, tried to control their fertility. Our findings evidenced that respondents’ beliefs surrounding the morality of fertility control was informed by multiple moral registers beyond Islam. For our respondents, moral action was informed by interpretations of Islamic teachings, economic insecurity, socioeconomic inequities, community/public discourse, and geopolitics. We argue there is a need to complicate our understanding of how Islam shapes reproductive strategies in Pakistan, and its relative importance in contraceptive decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ataullahjan, Anushka & Mumtaz, Zubia & Vallianatos, Helen, 2019. "Family planning, Islam and sin: Understandings of moral actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 49-56.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:230:y:2019:i:c:p:49-56
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.03.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffery, Patricia & Jeffery, Roger, 2002. "A Population Out of Control? Myths About Muslim Fertility in Contemporary India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1805-1822, October.
    2. Farida Shaheed, 2010. "Contested Identities: gendered politics, gendered religion in Pakistan," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 851-867.
    3. Krehbiel Keefe, Susi, 2006. ""Women do what they want": Islam and permanent contraception in Northern Tanzania," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 418-429, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aissata Mahamadou Sidibe & Paul I Kadetz & Therese Hesketh, 2020. "Factors Impacting Family Planning Use in Mali and Senegal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Adnan Muhammad Shah & KangYoon Lee & Javaria Nisa Mir, 2021. "Exploring Readiness for Birth Control in Improving Women Health Status: Factors Influencing the Adoption of Modern Contraceptives Methods for Family Planning Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-20, November.

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