31-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Experts in Malaysia are urging for the root causes of rising cases of abandoned babies in the country to be addressed, with a comprehensive sexual education framework and amendments to relevant laws topping the list. The Malaysian Medical Association stated that creating a proper sex education structure is key in ensuring that adolescents are equipped with the right knowledge, and amendments to the law must be considered for adolescents who are in need of sexual and reproductive health services, including the provision of contraceptives.
The call to action comes in response to the findings from the Health Ministry’s Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) 2022, which revealed that 33% of teenagers in the country had engaged in sexual activities before reaching the age of 14. The survey involved secondary students aged between 13 and 17 and was in line with the key findings of the Institute for Public Health’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS).
Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, said that failure to address the issue in an effective manner poses risks to young adults and adolescents in navigating through what he termed as the most tumultuous phases of their lives. This could have a permanent effect on the ability to reach their full potential in adulthood, he added.
Among the dangers and unintended consequences associated with this issue are unplanned pregnancies, abortions, unplanned births, baby dumping and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which affect mental and physical health – at times, irreversibly. Adolescent mothers are more likely to experience more stressful life events and postpartum depression symptoms, and their babies face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and severe neonatal conditions.
OrphanCare Foundation advocacy, communications and fund-raising manager Riza Alwi said the NGO had noticed a rising number of girls below the age of 18 engaging in sexual activities. The remedy should not just be about abstinence but include prevention methods, setting boundaries, and safe sex. Parents of such adolescents should acknowledge these issues openly, she said, adding that they should not be judgmental in discussing this with their children.
OrphanCare has been conducting talks on preventive reproduction in schools and universities around the Klang Valley since 2019. The NGO advocates and works to give children in institutions and unplanned newborn babies the opportunity to grow in the care of a family. To date, it has saved 526 babies since 2009, with 332 eventually adopted, 179 parented by their mothers after counselling, and 15 referred to the Welfare Department. In 2022, it received 46 babies, and up to June 26 this year, has already taken in 25 babies.
The rise in abandoned babies in Malaysia is a serious issue that requires urgent attention and action by all stakeholders. With the number of cases continuing to rise, it is crucial that efforts are made to address the root causes of the problem and provide young people with the education and support they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and well-being.
