"I Feel More Comfortable Asking Questions": How We Worked With Mosques to Talk With Muslim Women About Reproductive Health

In this article, we’ll explore: I feel more comfortable asking questions: how we worked with mosques to talk with Muslim women about reproductive health and why it matters today.

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For a long time, there has been a quiet wall standing between healthcare providers and many Muslim communities. It isn’t a wall made of bricks, but one built from cultural nuances, language barriers, and a lack of deep-rooted trust. When it comes to sensitive topics like reproductive health, that wall can feel even taller.

We realized that if we wanted to make a real difference in women’s health, we couldn’t just sit in a clinic and wait for people to come to us. We had to go where the heart of the community beats. We had to go to the mosque.

This is the story of how we broke down those barriers and why one participant’s feedback—“I feel more comfortable asking questions: how we worked with mosques to talk with Muslim women about reproductive health”—became the guiding light for our entire project.

The Missing Conversation

In many healthcare settings, reproductive health is treated as a purely medical checklist. Are you up to date on your screenings? Are you using contraception? How is your menstrual health? But for many Muslim women, these aren’t just medical questions; they are deeply personal topics that intersect with faith, modesty, and family dynamics.

In our early research, we found that many women felt “rushed” or “judged” in traditional GP settings. Some felt that doctors didn’t understand why they might be hesitant about certain exams. Others simply didn’t have the vocabulary in English to describe what they were feeling. The result? Women were skipping vital screenings like smear tests (cervical screenings) or suffering in silence with symptoms of menopause or endometriosis.

We knew we needed a “safe space.” A place where the environment itself whispered, “You are welcome here, and your values are respected.”

Why the Mosque Was the Perfect Bridge

To an outsider, a mosque is a place of prayer. But to the community, it is so much more. It is a community center, a school, a place for weddings, and a hub for social support. It is a place of trust.

By partnering with local mosques, we weren’t just renting a room; we were gaining a “seal of approval.” When the mosque leadership—especially the female leaders and the Imams—endorsed our health workshops, it signaled to the women that these conversations were not only allowed but encouraged by their faith.

Finding Our Champions

Our first step wasn’t printing leaflets; it was drinking tea. We spent weeks meeting with female community leaders and “Aunties” who are the backbone of these congregations. We listened to their concerns. They told us that women wanted to know about health, but they wanted to hear it from someone who “got it.”

We recruited Muslim female doctors and nurses to lead the sessions. This was a game-changer. When a woman sees a doctor who wears a hijab or understands the concept of Haya (modesty), the tension in the room evaporates. The conversation shifts from a clinical interrogation to a sisterly chat.

Creating the “Tea and Talk” Atmosphere

We purposefully avoided the look and feel of a hospital. No white coats, no cold plastic chairs, and no intimidating medical jargon. Instead, we organized “Tea and Talk” sessions in the mosque’s community halls.

The sessions were structured around three main pillars:

Privacy and Comfort: All sessions were women-only. We ensured the space was private so women could speak freely without fear of being overheard.
Culturally Relevant Materials: We translated our guides into Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, and Somali. More importantly, we used analogies that resonated with Islamic teachings about looking after the body as a “trust” (Amanah) from God.
Open Q&A: We left more time for questions than for the actual presentation. This is where the real magic happened.

The “Lightbulb” Moments

I remember one session specifically. We were talking about cervical screenings. One elderly woman admitted she had never had one because she thought it would “break her virginity” or was somehow shameful. A younger doctor, who was also a Muslim, explained the procedure with such gentleness and explained how it was an act of self-care for the sake of her children and her health. You could see the relief on the woman’s face. She wasn’t being lectured; she was being empowered.

“I Feel More Comfortable Asking Questions”

After a few months, we began to see a shift. The feedback forms started coming back, and one phrase kept popping up in different variations. One woman wrote: “I feel more comfortable asking questions: how we worked with mosques to talk with Muslim women about reproductive health” helped me realize that my health matters as much as anyone else’s.

This comfort led to a ripple effect. Women weren’t just asking questions in the workshops; they were taking those questions back to their GPs. They were booking the appointments they had been putting off for years. They were talking to their daughters about periods and their mothers about the menopause.

Real-World Example: The Menopause Cafe

One of our most successful spin-offs was the “Menopause Cafe” held at a mosque in East London. Many women in the community didn’t have a word for menopause in their native language; they just called it “getting old” or “drying up.” By providing a space to discuss symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and bone health, we demystified a natural stage of life. We had women in their 50s and 60s laughing and sharing tips—something that would have been unthinkable in a public or mixed-gender setting.

The Lessons We Learned Along the Way

Working on this project taught us that healthcare is about much more than medicine. It’s about sociology, psychology, and, most importantly, empathy.

1. Trust is Earned, Not Given

You cannot just show up with a clipboard and expect people to open up about their reproductive health. You have to show up for the community in other ways first. We attended mosque open days and community dinners before we ever asked for a workshop slot.

2. Language Matters

It’s not just about translation; it’s about “transcreation.” This means taking a concept and making it culturally relevant. For example, instead of just talking about “contraception,” we talked about “family planning and maternal health,” which is a framing that many Muslim families find more supportive and aligned with their goals of raising a healthy family.

3. Empowering Local Voices

The most effective part of our program was training “Health Ambassadors” within the mosque. These were regular members of the congregation who were trained to signpost women to the right services. When a friend tells you that a smear test isn’t scary, you’re much more likely to believe her than if a government poster tells you.

Key Takeaways for Community Health Projects

Collaborate, Don’t Dictate: Work with religious leaders, not around them.
Representation is Vital: Having healthcare professionals who share the same background as the community builds instant rapport.
Focus on the Environment: A familiar, sacred, or community-focused space reduces the “white coat hypertension” that many feel in clinics.
Address Taboos Head-On: Don’t shy away from difficult topics, but approach them with the sensitivity and respect they deserve.

Looking Forward

The success of this initiative has shown us a new blueprint for public health. We are now looking at how we can apply this “Mosque Model” to other areas, such as mental health support and diabetes management. The core principle remains the same: meet people where they are, respect their identity, and listen more than you speak.

When women say, “I feel more comfortable asking questions,” it means the barrier is finally coming down. It means we are moving toward a future where every woman, regardless of her faith or background, feels seen, heard, and cared for in the healthcare system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is reproductive health a sensitive topic in Muslim communities?

Like many conservative or traditional cultures, reproductive health is often tied to concepts of modesty and privacy. There can also be a fear of being misunderstood or judged by healthcare providers who do not understand Islamic values regarding family and bodily autonomy.

Did the Imams support these workshops?

Yes! In fact, their support was crucial. Many Imams were very happy to have health experts come in, as they often get asked questions about health and want to ensure their congregation is getting accurate, professional advice that is also religiously sensitive.

Was there a language barrier?

Initially, yes. We overcame this by ensuring our team was multilingual and by producing high-quality visual aids and pamphlets in multiple languages. We also relied heavily on younger, bilingual community members to help bridge the gap for the older generation.

Can this model work for other religions or communities?

Absolutely. The “Safe Space” model works for any community that feels marginalized or misunderstood by the mainstream healthcare system. Whether it’s a church, a gurdwara, a synagogue, or a community center, the key is partnering with trusted institutions.

What was the most common question women asked?

Many questions revolved around the “permissibility” of certain screenings and how to navigate the healthcare system while maintaining their modesty. Once they realized that taking care of their health is a celebrated part of their faith, their confidence grew immensely.

Written with love and assistance and refined for quality.

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