First year with the Muslim Deep Engagement Partner

The Muslim Deep Engagement Partner (DEP) have completed the first year of their 3-year programme.

Focus group 1 topic: muslim community attitudes and responses to the way information on vaccinations is provided

Objectives

• Understand the Muslim community's knowledge, beliefs, and concerns about vaccines
• Explore the influence of religious teachings, family, and community on vaccine decisions
• Examine trust in NHS advice and communication
• Identify what makes it hard for people to get vaccinated and ways to improve

Findings

• Knowledge of vaccines is limited, with confusion about ingredients, effectiveness, and immune responses
• Misinformation and lack of accessible, reliable information are major concerns
• Religious beliefs influence vaccine decisions, especially regarding halal and haram ingredients
• Trust in medical professionals varies — some prefer advice from competent GPs (General Practitioners, usually your family doctor), regardless of faith or ethnicity
• Family and community views usually shape individual decisions more than personal beliefs
• Communication from the NHS is often unclear, rushed, and lacking detail, especially during the pandemic
• Traditional remedies and faith-based practices are commonly used, sometimes delaying medical intervention
• Participants want more culturally relevant, clear, and empathetic health communication

Recommendations

• Create culturally sensitive vaccination campaigns with trusted community figures
• Provide language support and community health workers to improve access
• Empower women with tools and knowledge to navigate healthcare
• Provide clear, accessible information on specific vaccines and ingredients
• Handle misinformation using targeted media strategies

Focus group 2 topic: muslim women's health issues

Objectives

• Explore Muslim women's experiences and challenges around reproductive health, pregnancy, mental health, and cultural influences
• Identify what makes it hard for people to access healthcare and information.
• Collect feedback to inform culturally sensitive improvements in healthcare

Findings

• Many women lack formal education on nutrition and reproductive health, so they rely on online sources or family
• Cultural beliefs and taboos prevent open discussion about menstruation, contraception, and sexual health
• Healthcare experiences are often impersonal, rushed, and lack empathy, especially during pregnancy and miscarriage
• Mental health needs during pregnancy are not addressed properly, with limited emotional support and partner involvement
• Immigrant women face additional barriers, including language, isolation, and being unfamiliar with the NHS
• Faith influences family planning decisions, but misinformation and cultural pressure can lead to confusion
• Women feel empowered when they receive accurate, culturally relevant health education and have safe spaces to talk

Recommendations

• Train healthcare staff in cultural sensitivity and empathetic care to provide culturally competent care
• Provide bilingual, culturally tailored health education and resources
• Provide more remote health services and flexible consultation options for sensitive topics
• Integrate mental health support into maternity services, including peer networks
• Offer school-based and community reproductive health education
• Improve postpartum care, including breastfeeding and emotional support
• Target outreach to high-risk groups, especially Black, South Asian, and immigrant women
• Promote open communication about reproductive health through community events to break taboos
• Be clear about pain management and contraception procedures
• Support immigrant women with navigation services, cultural liaisons, and safety protocols
• Push for policy changes to embed cultural competence and mental health in NHS care

Focus group 3 topic: muslim women's mental health

Objectives

• Explore mental health challenges faced by Muslim women
• Understand what makes it hard to get support
• Identify culturally relevant coping strategies and service gaps
• Recommend improvements to mental health education and care

Findings

• Depression, anxiety, and emotional distress are common, often linked to cultural expectations, isolation, and gender roles
• Mental health stigma prevents open discussion and getting help
• GP and formal services are usually seen as not good enough or culturally insensitive
• Faith and spirituality are key coping mechanisms, but there is not enough structured support from religious leaders
• Symptoms include withdrawal, irritability, fatigue, and masking distress in public
• Coping strategies include prayer, creative outlets, physical activity, social media, and trusted relationships
• Many women lack the confidence to share mental health struggles because of fear of being judged and cultural norms
• Language barriers and a lack of awareness limit access to support

Recommendations

• Carry out mental health workshops in mosques and community centres
• Train religious leaders to speak openly about mental health and integrate these conversations into their routines, for example, Friday sermons
• Create safe, culturally sensitive support groups and online platforms
• Improve access to Muslim-friendly, faith-integrated mental health services
• Educate families on gender roles and shared responsibilities
• Raise awareness of domestic abuse and provide confidential support in a culturally competent manner
• Promote body positivity and challenge unrealistic beauty standards
• Offer parenting classes and youth empowerment programmes
• Reduce isolation through mentorship and inclusive social events

Focus group 4 topic: Islamic teaching and community health

Objectives

• Explore health challenges in the Muslim community through the lens of Islamic teachings.
• Understand what makes it hard to access healthcare and support
• Recommend culturally and religiously informed strategies to improve health outcomes

Findings

• Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and menopause are common but not well understood
• Mental health stigma is widespread, often linked to cultural taboos and spiritual misinterpretations
• Language barriers, lack of culturally competent care, and distrust in services affect access
• Women face unequal burdens in caregiving and health decision-making
• Religious misinterpretations can discourage medical treatment and push harmful norms
• Faith and spirituality are central to wellbeing, but not used enough in structured health support
• Mosques and religious leaders are not used enough as platforms for health education and support
• Social media influences unhealthy behaviours and body image perceptions

Recommendations

• Train imams in cultural competency, safeguarding, and health awareness
• Develop joint health and spiritual programmes with Islamic scholars and healthcare professionals
• Create safe spaces in mosques for women to discuss sensitive health issues
• Promote mental health education that balances Islamic teachings with safeguarding
• Encourage healthy eating and lifestyle choices through faith-based messaging
• Raise awareness of the link between diet, disease, and mental health
• Strengthen partnerships between mosques and local health services
• Empower women with health education and support networks
• Introduce health education in Islamic schools and youth groups
• Integrate spiritual practices like prayer and gratitude into health promotion programmes
• Counter harmful social media trends with positive, culturally relevant health messaging

Page last updated: 11 February 2026