"Women do what they want": Islam and permanent contraception in Northern Tanzania

Social Science & Medicine
Susi Krehbiel Keefe

Abstract

Based on fieldwork in Ugweno, Tanzania, this research explores a case that contradicts popular understandings and representations of Muslim African women-specifically with respect to reproduction and family planning. Building on case studies of women who articulate their motivations regarding contraceptive use in general, and sterilization in particular, I argue that religious (and, in this case, Islamic) values and reasoning are fashioned pragmatically. The study was based on in-depth, unstructured and open-ended interviews with 40 women (20 of whom had been sterilized), as well as men, religious leaders and hospital workers. Women (and men) in Ugweno construct reproductive lives that challenge overly deterministic understandings of the relationship between religion and contraceptive practices. It was found that perceptions of Islamic rules about family planning are inconsistent. Individuals are able to define their own approach by manipulating the rules and resisting them.

References

Dec 19, 2002·Health Care for Women International·Suha Al-Oballi Kridli, Kay Libbus
Mar 26, 2003·Social Science & Medicine·Carolyn Sargent, Dennis Cordell
Jul 26, 2003·Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology : the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·Huguette ComerasamyH Gordon
May 29, 2004·Journal of Biosocial Science·Marida Hollos, Ulla Larsen
Jul 21, 2004·Studies in Family Planning·Dennis P Hogan, Belay Biratu
Apr 22, 2005·International nursing review·S A Kridli, S E Newton

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Citations

Apr 4, 2012·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Biswamitra Sahu, Inge Hutter

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