Discussing male responsibility in reproductive health at Friday prayers in a mosque in Thailand's Yaring District. The study also found that nearly nine out of 10 say that they have discussed family planning with their congregants or peers and 36 per cent note that they have preached about it within the past year. Significantly, the study found, about 70 per cent agree that the mosque could be used for family planning lectures. Further, some 91 per cent of male and 98 per cent of female religious leaders say that they encourage couples to discuss contraception. The findings contradict the perception that Muslim religious leaders are more resistant to family planning than their communities, the Institute stated.
Men shoulder their responsibility during a child's vaccination.
Implemented by the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, it promotes adolescent reproductive health through greater men's involvement. For a population that is about 85 per cent Muslim, the province's Islamic leaders and local authorities have provided their buildings for use as adolescent reproductive health centres, with one of them located in part of a classroom in a mosque in Yaring District. Further, with the Provincial Islamic Council's support, awareness about reproductive health and men's role in it is being spread to community leaders and clergymen in about 270 villages. Small group discussions are also being held with Muslim men in mosques of about 300 villages before Friday prayers.