Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Disease prevention and health promotion have a very strong and clear basis in the teachings of Islam.The Muslim Health & Wellness Centre strives to highlight the significance of inclusive and culturally sensitive health interventions, emphasizing the effectiveness of faith-based approaches in improving health outcomes, promoting positive health behaviours, and addressing communication and cultural barriers.
Social Determinants of Health
Culture and religion contribute to the social determinants of health for many Muslims. This includes language barriers, differences in nonverbal communication across cultures, and the role of fasting on medication adherence and treatment compliance. Muslim Canadians have poor mental health outcomes associated with anti-muslim sentiment, perceived discrimination, lack of culturally competent mental health services, and cultural stigma against psychotherapy and counseling.
Health Inequities
The Muslim community in Canada experiences a range of health inequalities compared with the wider population. This is especially true for older people, with over 24% of Muslims aged 50 years and above reporting poor or very poor health which is double that of the population as a whole. A large number of the Muslim population in Canada also live in deprived areas, which recent research shows are disproportionately affected by cuts to public health funding. The Muslim Health & Wellness Centre is dedicated to challenging Islamophobia and working to foster equal and adequate care for all Muslims.