Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Malaysian Adolescents: How Far Have We Come?
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Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Malaysian Adolescents: How Far Have We Come? The State of the Region Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD+25) Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia NATIONAL REPORT Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Malaysian Adolescents: How Far Have We Come? Published by: Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia (FRHAM) 81-B, Jalan SS 15/5A, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Telephone: (603) 5633 7514/16/28 Email: [email protected] Website: www.frham.org.my Facebook: FRHAM OFFICIAL Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) 1 & 2 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone: (603) 2273 9913/14 Email: [email protected] Website: www.arrow.org.my Facebook: The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Twitter: @ARROW_Women YouTube: youtube.com/user/ARROWomen Production Team: Writer: EL Sheila Kanavathi Reviewers: Dr Nik Daliana, Nik Farid, Sai Jyothirmai Racherla and Shamala Chandrasekaran Copy Editor: Syirin Junisya, Vaishna Santhar, Suriana Adanan, Mimie Rahman and Jeremy Tan Layout Design: FRHAM and ARROW Layout: FRHAM and ARROW Photo Credit: FRHAM Printer: UG Graphic Service Sdn Bhd Any part of the text of the publication may be photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, or adapted and translated to meet local needs, for non-commercial and non-profit purposes. 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In cases of commercial usage, ARROW must be contacted for permission at [email protected]. 2 National Report on The State of the Region Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: ICPD+25 LIST OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................. 6 ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ 8 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 9 1.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.2. Malaysian Adolescents, their Vulnerabilities and the Importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education ............................................................................................................. 11 1.2.1. Adolescents and their Sexual and Reproductive Health ................................... 11 1.2.2. Sexual Violence in Children ................................................................................ 13 1.2.3. Sexuality Education ............................................................................................ 14 1.2.4. Comprehensive Sexuality Education ................................................................. 15 1.3. Malaysia and the International Conference on Population and Development ........ 18 1.4. Malaysia and the Millennium Development Goals .................................................. 26 1.5. Malaysia and the Sustainable Development Goals .................................................. 28 2. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 34 2.1. Phase I: Systematic Desk Review .............................................................................. 34 1 2.2. Phase II: Qualitative Study ........................................................................................ 36 2.2.1. Ethical consideration.......................................................................................... 36 2.2.2. Study design and setting .................................................................................... 37 2.2.3. Study sample ...................................................................................................... 38 2.2.4. Sample size ......................................................................................................... 40 2.2.5. Study Instrument ............................................................................................... 41 2.2.6. Data collection ................................................................................................... 43 2.2.7. Data analysis and management ......................................................................... 45 3. Finding of Desk Review ............................................................................................................. 52 3.1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Malaysia .......................................... 46 3.1.1. Abortions in Malaysia ........................................................................................ 49 3.1.2. Key players of SRH in Malaysia .......................................................................... 50 3.2. Gender Equality in Malaysia ...................................................................................... 51 3.2.1. Economic Participation of Women in Malaysia ................................................. 51 3.2.2. Malaysia and International Conventions ........................................................... 53 3.2.3. Criminalisation of Transgender Identities ......................................................... 58 3.3. Scenario of Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Malaysia .... 59 3.3.1. Teenage pregnancy in Malaysia ......................................................................... 60 3.3.2. Adolescents and HIV/AIDS and other STIs ......................................................... 61 2 3.3.2.1 Prevention of HIV Transmission and Care among Children, Adolescent and Young People .................................................................................................................... 63 3.3.3. Child Marriages in Malaysia ............................................................................... 64 3.3.4. Child Sexual Abuse ............................................................................................. 67 3.3.5. Child Sexual Grooming ....................................................................................... 69 3.3.6. National Policies on Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health ................. 70 3.4. Conclusion of Desk Review ....................................................................................... 72 4. RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 73 4.1. Focus Group Discussions with Adolescents .............................................................. 73 4.2. Results from FGDs – Parents and Teachers .............................................................. 82 4.3. Results from In-depth Interviews .............................................................................. 87 5. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................... 91 6. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 107 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 117 8. APPENDIX................................................................................................................................. 132 Appendix 1: Interview Guide for FGD – Adolescents ......................................................... 132 Appendix 2: Interview Guide for FGD – Parents and Teachers.......................................... 134 Appendix 3: In-depth Interview (IDI) Informed Consent ................................................... 136 Appendix 4: IDI Questions for Key Informant-Ministry of Education ................................ 137 Appendix 5: IDI Questions for Key Informant-Ministry of Health...................................... 138 3 Appendix 6: IDI Questions for Key Informant - National Population of Family Development Board .................................................................................................................................. 139 Appendix 7: IDI Question for Key Informant - NUTP ......................................................... 140 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 The 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)……………………………………………………..29 Figure 2 The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…………………………………………………….32 Figure 3 Recommendation for CSE Implementation ............................................................. 108 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Millennium Development Goals and outcome in Malaysia .......................................