Fewer Muslim women have pre-marital sex — UP study

Fewer Muslim than Christian Filipinos are engaged in premarital sex, according to a nationwide study by the University of the Philippines.

The study on young adult fertility and sexuality showed 23.1 percent of Christians have admitted having sex before marriage as compared to 9.4 percent of Muslims.

"Perhaps because of their conservative sexual behavior, the Muslims tend to manifest a greater feeling of invulnerability to AIDS," the study said.

"In particular, almost all Muslim females claimed that they have no chance of getting AIDS."

The study said a small number of Muslims have experienced premarital sex because they have been married early.

However, Muslims, who have had sex before marriage, especially males, have shown a higher level of the use of contraceptives, the study added.

The study showed about a third of Muslim males had used contraceptives during their sexual debut, a number higher than those of Christian males. Muslim adolsecents, particularly females have shown a lower level of awareness of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases as compared to Christians, the study added.

The study said young Muslim Filipinos believe that AIDS is curable, and a big number think they are vulnerable to the disease. Given the "tamer sexual experience" of female Filipino Muslims, "it is not surprising that they are generally less likely" to report reproductive health or reproductive health-related symptoms and problems, the study added.

Meanwhile, a study in Indonesia showed that Muslim women in Indonesia and Malaysia "formally" enjoy equal rights and responsibilities with men as compared to Muslim women in the Middle East.

The paper, "The Current Role and Status of Islamic Women in South East Asia," was based on views and experience of the author, Dr. Dewi Fortuna Anwar.

"It is hoped that experiences of Muslim women in Indonesia and Malaysia, where women have formally enjoyed equally rights and responsibilities with men, will demonstrate to the world at large, including to other Muslim countries that Islam is not incompatible with gender equality," said Anwar, director for program and research at the Habibie Center, and research professor and deputy chairman for social sciences and humanities at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

Anwar urged women in other Islamic countries to change the common perception, especially in Western countries, about the "general backwardness" of women in Islamic society.

"It is important to stress that the Islamic world is not monolithic and there are major differences between regions and countries," she said. — Pia Lee-Brago