Teen Pregnancy Out Of Wedlock Remains A Concern – Nancy
KUCHING: The issue of teenage pregnancy out of wedlock continues to be a concern, with 21,114 individuals aged 10 to 19 recorded at government health facilities for the period of 2019 to 2024.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that this situation shows that young people are facing increasingly complex social challenges that require the attention of all parties.
She said that the issue of teenage pregnancy out of wedlock not only affects the future of these individuals but also impacts family institutions and community well-being if not addressed comprehensively.
“Therefore, prevention efforts, education, and early intervention must continue to be strengthened with the support of all parties including parents, schools, government agencies, and the community,” she said when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the PEKERTI National Programme at the Sarawak Malaysia Arts School (SSeMS), in Santubong, here today.
Nancy said that the challenges faced by teenagers today are no longer only in the physical environment, but the digital world has also opened up space for various risks such as cyberbullying, online scams, sexual exploitation, and the phenomenon of sexual grooming.
She said that the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022 found that nearly one third or 29 per cent of teenagers aged 13 to 17 have a tendency towards internet addiction, which can expose them to various social and safety risks.
She said that Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) statistics also show an increase in statutory rape cases involving consensual relationships among minors, rising to 1,139 cases, compared to 719 cases in 2019.
“This development proves that education on personal safety and reproductive health needs to continue to be strengthened so that teenagers are more aware of the risks they face,” she said.
She also reminded parents to play their role as the first line of defence in protecting their children by spending time with them, understanding the digital world, and monitoring the use of technology wisely.
She said that strong family relationships can help children make the right decisions and prevent them from being drawn into negative influences.
In this regard, she said that the PEKERTI National Programme has been introduced as a comprehensive approach to empowering reproductive health education among teenagers, with a target involving 150,000 teenagers nationwide, including 60,000 students from more than 1,000 schools, as well as producing 1,000 Junior Teen Educators.
Berita Harian