The influence of personal, family and community and religious and cultural factors on couples’ family planning decisions in Qatar and Islamic and/or Arabic societies

Background: Family planning is important to foster maternity, infancy, and healthy children. A key goal in maternal child health is to improve the use of antenatal and postnatal services in a community. Both clinical practice and empirical literature indicate that many factors influence the use of family planning services. The Qatar National Health Strategy and Primary Health Care Corporation’s goals are to deliver healthcare that more effectively empowers patients and families in making decisions about their health and wellness. Couples who have an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the impact of family planning on maternal child health are positioned to make fully informed decisions. Health providers’ and educators’ knowledge of family planning’s impact is key in supporting families’ decisions regarding family planning. 
Methods: Whittemore and Knafl’s framework was used to guide this integrative literature review. The search was conducted using five databases for peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and 2022 as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Data was analyzed using a thematic framework. The socio-ecological model was adapted and modified for data synthesis. 
Results: A couple’s participation in family planning is influenced by personal characteristics (knowledge, education, income), family and community (husband) as well as religion and culture. The influence of religion and husbands are paramount in decisions about family planning. 
Conclusions: Understanding the factors that influence family planning decisions is essential to make informed decisions and provide effective interventions. Healthcare providers and program planners should consider these factors when developing strategies to improve couples’ access to and utilization of family planning. The development and implementation of such strategies will require the input of all stakeholders, the inclusion of champions, and attention to the local context as well as more broadly to Islamic and Arabic societies.