Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam has revealed that on average, 50 teenage girls in Malaysia get pregnant every day.
Annually, Subramaniam said that 18,000 teenage girls seek medical attention at government health clinics due to pregnancy, with 25% of the cases, or 4,500, involving pregnancies resulting from extramarital sex.
The Star Online reports that when asked today on how many of those teen pregnancies are caused by rape, Subra replied that the number is relatively small.
He added that teenage or early pregnancy would have adverse effects not only on the mother’s health, but could also pose greater risks on the baby, including premature death.
In 2012, a Global School-based Student Health Survey carried out by the Health Ministry found that 50.4% of students aged 13 to 17 admitted to have had sexual relations before the age of 14.
“This issue, if not addressed, will increase the risks of teen pregnancy, which may also lead to other problems, such as abandoned babies,” the minister said.
Subramaniam was speaking at the national-level launch of the ‘Generasiku Sayang’ programme in Putrajaya today, which was officiated by its patron, the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.
Raja Zarith Sofiah stressed that out-of-wedlock pregnancies drive teenage mothers into a situation where they could be rejected by their families and communities.
“Stigma and shame may drive teenage girls who are pregnant out of wedlock to go anywhere to get help or protection, which is temporary,” she said.
“In today’s world that is full of challenges, parenting knowledge is so important. The emphasis on lifelong sexual and reproductive health education is also very important.”
