Role of religious leaders in adolescents' reproductive health and family planning: A systematic review.

This systematic review examines the role of religious leaders in adolescents' reproductive health and family planning. Following PRISMA guidelines, databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science were searched, yielding 1435 articles from 2018 to 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised of open access original peer-reviewed articles that were written in English language, with a concentration on adolescent health. On the other hand, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. From our findings, religious leaders play a significant role in influencing the use of modern contraceptives among adolescents, although their role as a source of reproductive health information is limited. Collaborating with local religious leaders can strengthen efforts to promote family planning and achieve sustainable development goals, despite challenges posed by cultural and social norms. Involving religious leaders in adolescents' reproductive health programs is a crucial strategy to raise awareness and support them in making responsible decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.