KUCHING, Sept 13 — The level of reproductive health knowledge among children in the country remains low despite easy access to information through social media.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that continuous efforts, involving cooperation between the government, stakeholders, and family members, are needed to effectively address the issue.
“The public also needs to be more open about this issue. We do not want reproductive health programmes or education to be seen as giving teenagers the opportunity to experiment with sex. On the contrary, what we are doing is identifying the best materials and approaches to share, thereby raising awareness among parents,” she told reporters when met at Sarawak’s iteration of the National Reproductive and Social Health Education Advocacy programme at SK Gersik here today.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022, reproductive health knowledge among children and adolescents remains low, while the prevalence of sexual behaviour among adolescents rose to 7.6 per cent in 2022 from 7.3 per cent in 2017.
More worryingly, the study also found that the age of first sexual intercourse can be as early as 13.
In response, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) has implemented various structured advocacy programmes, including the Sexual and Reproductive Health for Boys module, to educate boys to be more responsible in their sexual behaviour.
Nancy added that apart from reproductive education, her ministry is also strengthening child protection efforts through the Kasih KPWKM Advocacy programme under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which has been expanded to 30 Children’s Activity Centres nationwide.
This year, the programme is to be implemented in at least 300 schools, with a special focus on online safety.
