In the restless southern provinces of Thailand, where conflict has claimed over 7,000 lives since 2004, young Muslim soldiers are fighting on two fronts. One is visible – against separatist violence. The other is hidden – against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.
A study from Chulalongkorn University reveals a troubling disconnect: more than half of Muslim army conscripts lack basic Islamic knowledge about permissible and forbidden sexual acts. And this ignorance is directly linked to high-risk sexual behavior.
The Silent Crisis in the Military
The three southernmost provinces of Thailand – Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat – are predominantly Muslim. Since 2004, this region has experienced ongoing conflict. Army conscripts, many as young as 21, are deployed to maintain security. They are far from home, under extreme stress, and vulnerable.
The study, conducted between May and July 2020, surveyed 421 Muslim army conscripts stationed in these conflict zones. The findings are sobering.
Knowledge Levels of Islamic Sexual Rules Among Thai Muslim Conscripts
| Knowledge Level | Percentage | Number of Conscripts |
|---|---|---|
| Poor (less than 60%) | 57.5% | 242 |
| Moderate (60-79%) | 28.0% | 118 |
| Good (80-100%) | 14.5% | 61 |
Only one in seven soldiers had a solid understanding of what Islam permits and forbids regarding sexual behavior. Nearly six in ten were operating on poor information.
The Real-World Consequence: High-Risk Behavior
Here is where the data becomes alarming. The study found that 32.5% of participants (nearly one in three) engaged in sexual behaviors that put them at high risk for HIV and other STIs.
What does high-risk mean? In this study, it meant:
- Single men having inconsistent condom use
- Married men having multiple sexual partners
- Sexual intercourse outside marriage
Risk Factors Significantly Associated with HIV/STIs
| Factor | Low Risk (%) | High Risk (%) | Statistical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamic Sexual Knowledge | |||
| Good knowledge | 95.1% | 4.9% | p < 0.001 |
| Moderate knowledge | 94.9% | 5.1% | (very strong) |
| Poor knowledge | 47.1% | 52.9% | |
| Marital Status | |||
| Married | 85.9% | 14.1% | p < 0.001 |
| Single | 62.8% | 37.2% | |
| Smoking | |||
| Non-smoker | 77.5% | 22.5% | p < 0.001 |
| Active smoker | 57.5% | 42.5% | |
| Alcohol | |||
| Non-drinker | 72.2% | 27.8% | p = 0.007 |
| Active drinker | 59.5% | 40.5% | |
| Hometown | |||
| From southern provinces | 72.1% | 27.9% | p = 0.033 |
| From other provinces | 62.3% | 37.7% |
The single strongest predictor of high-risk sexual behavior was poor Islamic sexual knowledge. Among those with poor knowledge, over half (52.9%) engaged in risky behavior. Among those with good knowledge, only 4.9% did.
What Do Soldiers Not Know?
The study tested conscripts on 22 specific items of Islamic sexual ethics. The results reveal dangerous gaps.
What most got right:
- 78% knew vaginal intercourse between married couples is permitted (halal)
- 66% knew sex with another woman (not one’s wife) is forbidden (haram)
- 61% knew hugging/caressing without insertion in marriage is allowed
What most got wrong (and this is critical):
Two-thirds of conscripts did not know that the “withdrawal method” (coitus interruptus) is disapproved (makruh) in Islam. Many incorrectly thought it was permitted or were unsure. This matters because relying on withdrawal does not prevent STIs and often fails to prevent pregnancy.
More than half (56.5%) correctly knew that anal intercourse in marriage is forbidden. But 44% either thought it was permitted, disapproved, or were unsure – a large minority with dangerous confusion.
Most concerning: Misconceptions about oral sex. In face-to-face interviews, some soldiers revealed they did not consider oral sex with someone other than their wife as “sex outside marriage.” They believed that because sperm did not enter the vagina, it was not a violation of Islamic law.
This is a catastrophic misunderstanding. Islam clearly prohibits any sexual intimacy outside of marriage. And from a health perspective, oral sex can transmit STIs including gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and HIV.
Why Does This Happen?
Most of the conscripts (65%) had finished secondary school. So why don’t they know basic Islamic sexual ethics?
The study offers a clear explanation: Most attended general public schools, not Islamic religious schools. In Thai public schools, students receive only general, non-religious sexual education. Islamic schools (pondok or madrasah) teach sexual ethics from an Islamic perspective – but these were not the schools most conscripts attended.
One researcher noted: “STIs could be prevented if the traditional norms and rules of Islam were properly applied to Muslims.”
The Link Between Smoking, Drinking, and Risky Sex
The study found that active smokers were nearly twice as likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior compared to non-smokers (42.5% vs 22.5%). Similarly, active drinkers had significantly higher risk (40.5%) compared to non-drinkers (27.8%).
Why? The researchers explain that smoking and drinking often cluster together. Alcohol impairs judgment and reduces condom use. Smoking is also associated with other sensation-seeking behaviors.
From an Islamic perspective, both smoking and drinking are problematic. While alcohol is explicitly forbidden (haram), smoking is considered harmful (makruh or haram depending on the scholar). Islam calls upon believers to protect their health.
The “Single Soldier” Problem
Married soldiers were significantly less likely to engage in risky behavior (14.1% high risk) compared to single soldiers (37.2% high risk). However, even among married soldiers, more than one in five (22.3%) reported sexual intercourse outside marriage – a clear violation of Islamic rules.
This is not just a religious issue. It is a public health crisis. A married soldier who has sex outside marriage puts himself, his wife, and any other partners at risk for HIV and other STIs.
What Islam Actually Teaches
The study reminds us that Islam provides a comprehensive framework for sexual ethics – one that, if properly understood and followed, dramatically reduces STI risk.
Permitted (Halal):
- Vaginal intercourse between married couples
- Hugging, kissing, caressing without insertion between married couples
Disapproved (Makruh) – should be avoided:
- Withdrawal method (coitus interruptus) in marriage
- Oral sex between married couples (controversial, but majority of scholars in this study deemed it disapproved)
Forbidden (Haram):
- Any sexual intercourse outside marriage
- Anal intercourse (even between married couples)
- Sex with someone other than one’s spouse
- Masturbation (considered a sin by most scholars)
- Homosexual acts
Permitted for health reasons: Using a condom when a spouse has an STI to prevent transmission – not as birth control, but as disease prevention.
The Positive News: Knowledge Works
The study has a clear and hopeful message: Islamic knowledge protects.
Look at the numbers again. Among conscripts with good Islamic sexual knowledge, 95% were at low risk for HIV/STIs. Among those with poor knowledge, only 47% were low risk.
That is a massive difference. When young Muslim men understand what their faith teaches, they make safer choices. They abstain from sex outside marriage. They use condoms correctly when there is a health risk. They avoid behaviors that lead to disease.
What Needs to Happen?
The researchers offer specific recommendations:
For military commanders: Implement sexual health education programs based on Islamic values. Do not assume that young conscripts already know the rules. Most do not.
For nurses and public health professionals: Collaborate with Imams (Islamic religious leaders) to deliver health messages. In a deeply religious community, religious authority matters. An Imam explaining that condoms are permitted to prevent disease carries more weight than a secular health worker.
For religious leaders: Address misconceptions directly. Oral sex outside marriage IS sex outside marriage – and it is haram. The withdrawal method is not a valid form of birth control or STI prevention.
For families and communities: Teach young men Islamic sexual ethics before they are conscripted. Prevention starts at home.
A Note on Abstinence
The study notes that the best way to avoid STIs is to practice abstinence until marriage – which is exactly what Islam teaches. However, the researchers acknowledge that not all young men will follow this. For those who do not, they recommend:
- Clear understanding that sex outside marriage is haram
- If it occurs, social responsibility to use condoms to protect oneself and others
- Non-judgmental access to condoms and STI testing
The Thailand Context
Thailand has set a goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. But a 2018 survey found that HIV prevalence among new army conscripts had doubled compared to 2011. This study suggests that religious-based education could be a powerful tool to reverse that trend.
Unlike many Western countries where religious sexual education is controversial, Thailand’s southern provinces are overwhelmingly Muslim. Islamic teachings are respected. Using that respect to promote sexual health is not coercion – it is culturally appropriate public health.
What You Can Learn From This Study
Even if you are not a Thai soldier, this research holds universal lessons:
First, knowing the rules of your faith is not enough. You must understand them correctly. Misconceptions (like “oral sex isn’t really sex”) can lead to spiritual and physical harm.
Second, knowledge changes behavior. The study proves that good Islamic knowledge correlates strongly with low-risk behavior. If you are a Muslim parent, ensure your children receive proper religious education – not just in theology, but in practical ethics including sexuality.
Third, shame and silence kill. The soldiers in this study answered sensitive questions honestly because the research was anonymous. But in daily life, many young Muslims never ask about sexual rules because they are too embarrassed. This must change. Religious leaders should create safe spaces for questions.
Fourth, risk behaviors cluster. Smoking, drinking, and risky sex often go together. Quitting one bad habit can help with others.
The Bottom Line
The study concludes: “The strongest association predictive variable was knowledge of Islamic doctrines on sexual behaviors.”
In plain English: What you know about Islam directly affects whether you put yourself at risk for HIV.
More than half of Muslim conscripts in southern Thailand are operating with poor knowledge. One in three is engaging in high-risk sexual behavior. These are not numbers. They are young men – sons, brothers, husbands – who could be protected if they simply understood what their own religion teaches.
The solution is not complicated. Partner with Imams. Teach Islamic sexual ethics in schools. Correct misconceptions. Provide condoms for those who will not abstain, while always reminding them that abstinence is the ideal.
As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There should be no harming nor reciprocating harm.” Protecting oneself and others from disease is not just good health policy. It is Islamic duty.
Reference: here
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