Authors : Salasiah Hanin Hamjah, Mohd. Al-Adib Samuri, Rosmawati Mohamad Rasit, Fariza Md. Sham, Zuliza Mohd Kusrin, Zainab Ismail and Nazirah Kamal Basah
Abstract: Pre-marital pregnancy amongst adolescents is a social issue that occurs without regard to culture, religion or social background. Despite Islam being a religion that prohibits pre-marital sex and one that does not legitimise pregnancies as a result of such intercourse, the reality is that many Muslim youths engage in sexual activities before being legally wed. Malaysia is a country that is no exception in facing this issue. In relation to this, a detailed study to determine the factors relating to premarital pregnancies is necessary to help form an intervention programme that may be specifically targeted at the community, namely young Muslim adolescents. This study will discuss the factors concerning Muslim youths and premarital pregnancy in a conservative Islamic state such as Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to young female Muslim adolescents who had been pregnant out of wedlock (N = 50) in two Muslim women’s shelters in Malaysia: Pusat Bimbingan Raudhatus Sakinah and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Darul Islah Selangor (Perkid). The results of the study found that among the contributing factors that cause young Muslim females to engage in unsafe premarital sex resulting in pregnancy are the parents, peer-influence, mass media and personal issues. Notably however, the study found that the primary factor was the lack of religiosity and religious practice among female Muslim adolescents, despite the efforts of Islamisation in Malaysia to promote abstinence rather than safe sex.
Salasiah Hanin Hamjah, Mohd. Al-Adib Samuri, Rosmawati Mohamad Rasit, Fariza Md. Sham, Zuliza Mohd Kusrin, Zainab Ismail and Nazirah Kamal Basah, 2012. Factors Relating to Premarital Pregnancy Amongst Muslim Adolescents in Malaysia. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6: 266-271.