Perinatal care experiences of Muslim women in Northwestern Ontario, Canada: A qualitative study Manal M. Alzghoul a, *, Helle Møller b , Pamela Wakewich c , Martha Dowsley d a School of Nursing, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, Lakehead University, Canada b Department of Health Sciences, Associate Director, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, Lakehead University, Canada c Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology and Women’s Studies, Lakehead University, Canada, Canada d Department of Geography and the Environment and Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Canada A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 10 July 2019 Received in revised form 11 January 2020 Accepted 25 February 2020 Available online xxx Keywords: Perinatal Care Experiences Muslim women Immigrant Religious beliefs Cultural practices Northwestern Ontario Rural Canada Qualitative study A B S T R A C T Problem and Background: Although the number of Muslim women in Canada and northwestern Ontario (NWO) is increasing, few studies have focused on their experiences of perinatal health care. Extant research has highlighted discrimination and care that lacks respect for cultural and religious norms. These factors may limit access to health services and increase unfavorable maternal and child health outcomes. Aim: To explore the perinatal health care experiences of Muslim women in NWO. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive study used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit a sample of 19 Muslim mothers. Ssemistructured interviews were conducted, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Findings: The mothers’ experiences were categorized into four themes: women’s choices and preferences of health care providers (HCPs); attitudes toward prenatal classes and education; husbands’ involvement and support in the birthing process; and challenges to optimal care. Discussion and Conclusion: The findings show that NWO Muslim women’s experiences were generally positive and their care choices and preferences were shaped by their religious beliefs and cultural practices. Factors that enhanced their experiences were HCPs’ awareness of and respect for the women’s religious and cultural beliefs and practices. However, the women lacked personal knowledge of a range of care options and services. Respecting Muslim women’s religious and cultural beliefs and practices will enhance their experience of care. Equity in access to quality services, care, and outcomes can be further enhanced if Muslim women are informed about the range of care options and services as early in their pregnancies as possible. © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Statement of Significance Problem or issue Limited research has focused on Muslim women’s perinatal experiences, and there has been little discussion of culturally appropriate care for Muslim women in the Canadian context, especially in rural areas. What is already known Compared to other immigrant women, Muslim women experience insensitivity, racism, and discrimination, and a lack of knowledge by HCPs about their religious and cultural practices. What this paper adds The Muslim participants in this study, many of whom were well educated, from a higher socioeconomic status (SES), and strongly connected to their religious community, generally had positive perinatal experiences and felt respected by HCPs. Their choices and experiences were influenced by their religious beliefs and cultural practices; however, they identified some changes and additional services that could optimize their perinatal experiences and outcomes. * Corresponding author at: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B5E1, Canada. E-mail address: malzghou@lakeheadu.ca (M.M. Alzghoul). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.02.021 1871-5192/© 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Women and Birth xxx (2019) xxx–xxx G Model WOMBI 1096 No. of Pages 8 Please cite this article in press as: M.M. Alzghoul, et al., Perinatal care experiences of Muslim women in Northwestern Ontario, Canada: A qualitative study, Women Birth (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.02.021 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Women and Birth journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/wombi