KUCHING: As of September this year, Sarawak has seen 1,599 teen pregnancies, a slight rise from last year.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said that this year’s figure marks a 4 per cent increase from last year’s 1,536 reported teen pregnancies.
“Looking at the statistics at hand, it is crucial for us in Sarawak to strategise programmes aimed at further reducing the incidence of teen pregnancies in the state.
“While this represents a significant decline compared to 2016, which saw 2,481 teen pregnancies, there are still factors and methods we can explore to continue reducing these numbers,” she said during a press conference on the One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTP) at Wisma Bapa today.
She also said that, according to surveys, the primary factors contributing to teen pregnancies include media influence, peer pressure, inadequate sex education, limited access to contraception, lack of parental guidance, early puberty, alcohol and drug abuse, and other factors.
With that in mind, Fatimah believed that teen pregnancies occur due to one or multiple factors.
“To address this issue comprehensively, we first need to gain a holistic understanding of teen pregnancies. Subsequently, each division within OSTP can devise relevant programmes tailored to their specific needs.
“While we already have modules for these programmes, I believe it would be more effective to customise them based on the unique scenarios and factors in each division.
“Furthermore, beginning next year, OSTP will introduce parenting modules to instill strong values in parenting,” she said.
Additionally, she suggested that OSTP utilise social media platforms to disseminate impactful messages and raise awareness about teen pregnancy issues among teenagers.
“Through platforms such as TikTok, we can share concise yet impactful messages that can reach a wide audience of teenagers,” she added.
