Say ‘no’ to baby dumping: A model posing at OrphanCare’s baby hatch centre in Petaling Jaya.
Practical solutions required for teen pregnancies, baby dumping, STDs
PETALING JAYA: With the number of abandoned babies in the country on the rise, experts are pleading for the root causes to be addressed.
Top of the list is a comprehensive sexual education framework to create awareness on the issue and amendments to relevant laws, said the Malaysian Medical Association. Its president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said creating a proper sex education structure was key in ensuring that adolescents were equipped with the right knowledge.
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“For decades, we have failed to implement this. We need to look at this issue in a holistic manner, providing practical solutions that are in tandem with the realities of what all our teenagers are facing.
“Amendments to the law must be considered for adolescents who are in need of sexual and reproductive health services, including the provision of contraceptives.
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“Adolescent sexual activity and unprotected sex, in particular, is an issue of great concern to all stakeholders working towards the well-being of the young,” he told The Star in response to the findings from the Health Ministry’s Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) 2022.
The survey revealed that 33% of teenagers in the country had engaged in sexual activities before reaching the age of 14.
This was in line with the key findings of the Institute for Public Health’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS): Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) 2022, which involved secondary students aged between 13 and 17.
Dr Muruga Raj said failure to address the issue in an effective manner posed 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 their mental and physical health – at times, irreversibly.
“Adolescent mothers are more likely to initiate prenatal care late, have poor prenatal health behaviours, lower breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, experience more stressful life events and postpartum depression symptoms.“They also face a higher risk of eclampsia (seizures that occur in pregnant women), puerperal endometritis (inflammation and infection of the uterus) and systemic infections, while their babies face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm birth and severe neonatal conditions,” he said.
Parents of such adolescents should acknowledge these issues openly, he said, adding that they should not be judgmental in discussing this with their children.
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. She said the remedy should not just be about abstinence but include prevention methods, setting boundaries and safe sex.
“We have to acknowledge that there are things beyond our control, but what we can do is prevent unwanted pregnancies. We have to start talking about relationships beyond the ‘sperm and ovum’ taught in biology class. Boys and girls need awareness on what to do and how to be safe.
“This is where parents can play a role by talking to them and discussing these matters,” she added.
Riza said OrphanCare has been conducting talks on preventive reproduction in schools and universities around the Klang Valley since 2019.
“Many girls would approach us in private later to say they did not even know they had been a victim of rape, sexual harassment or molestation. This is why we have to talk to them about prevention and setting boundaries,” she added.OrphanCare, which advocates and works to give children in institutions and unplanned newborn babies the opportunity to grow in the care of a family, has saved 526 babies since 2009. Of this number, 332 were 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 ones who have not been adopted have Down Syndrome or HIV. The cases usually involve university students and young adults, but we have received cases involving the underaged who were not aware of sexual repercussions,” said Riza.
Recently, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri told Parliament that 256 cases of abandoned babies were recorded from 2020 to 2022, based on police statistics.
