Muslim women’s marriage, pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children: Evidence from the United States, Iran and Malaysia

• Main Authors: Raja Ariffin, Raja Noriza, Abdul Talib @ Abdul Mutalib, Muzalwana, Mohd Satar, Nurulhuda, Hanafi, Hanira, Othman, Azmah, Tumin, Makmor, Zahari, Rustam Khairi
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Indian Institute of Health Management Research and SAGE Publications 2017
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/60565/1/Muslim%20Women%202017%20JHM727621%20%283%29.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/60565/7/60565_Muslim%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Marriage%2C%20Pregnancy%2C%20Abortion%20and%20Spacing%20of%20Children_scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/60565/; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0972063417727621?journalCode=jhma

Background: This study investigates the decisions on marriage, pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children among Muslim women (MW) residing in the United States, Iran and Malaysia to explore the occurrences as well as socio-demographic characteristics associated with the likelihood of making an independent decision regarding sexual and reproductive health rights. Methods: A total of 1140 MW in Washington, D.C. (the United States), Tehran (Iran) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) participated in this study, and the number of respondents were equally distributed across the three cities. To examine the occurrences of sexual and reproductive rights violation, we report the descriptive statistics from the responses given by MW in these cities. Results: On the decision to solemnize marriage, 84.5 per cent of MW in Malaysia reported that the marriage decision is made jointly with their husbands, but this figure stands at only 30 per cent in Iran and 47.9 per cent in the United States. More than 80 per cent and 72 per cent of MW in Malaysia and Iran, respectively, make decisions on pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children jointly with their husbands. Conclusions: Policymakers should promote jointly made (made by wife and husband together) decisions among Muslims, which accords with Islamic teachings and is considered as good practice among Muslims.