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Abstract
Objectives: Imams are religious leaders who have significant influence on the social attitudes and behavior of a society. This study examined the views of imams on family planning and their personal preference of birth control methods. Materials and methods: Using a pre-prepared questionnaire, an on-site individual interview was conducted face-to-face with each of 164 imams at Kayseri, a city in Central Anatolia. Results: All of the imams included in the study knew of at least one family planning method. Withdrawal was the most widely known method of family planning (84.2%). Among imams, 88.4% approved the use of birth control. While only 61.8% of the imams used at least one method of family planning, 20.1% used none at all. Of the family planning methods used, we considered 43.1% efficient (modern) and 18.7% inefficient (traditional). The most important factor affecting preference of traditional methods was religious suitability. Conclusion: Contrary to common belief, imams viewed family planning positively and used family planning methods at a rate similar to that of the general public. If provided with accurate information, we believe that imams may have a positive contribution to make in the development of family planning programs.