KUALA LUMPUR – Between 2020 and 2024, 16,951 unmarried teenagers aged 19 and below were reported as pregnant at government health facilities, according to data from the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
This alarming figure was shared by Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, in a response to a parliamentary question.
The Minister revealed that efforts to curb teenage pregnancies, especially among unmarried teens, are being addressed through a variety of initiatives. These efforts include strengthening reproductive health education, providing counselling, and offering community-based support.
As part of the government's broader strategy, the Ministry has launched the Reproductive and Social Health Education Policy and Action Plan (Pekerti), designed to raise awareness and promote responsible and resilient behaviours among young people.
Nancy explained that under this initiative, reproductive health education is provided through both formal school curricula and informal educational programmes outside of school settings.
"The aim is to equip young people with the skills to make positive, safe reproductive health choices," she said. "We are working to embed this education in both higher education institutions and at the community level."
The initiative also coordinates efforts across various government departments, with measures such as integrating Pekerti programmes into higher education institutions and expanding outreach to local communities through advocacy and awareness campaigns.
In addition to these educational strategies, the Ministry has been expanding its services to provide direct support to teenagers. The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) runs several programmes, including KafeTEEN centres, which offer guidance and support in physical, mental, and social well-being.
"The KafeTEEN initiative provides spaces for teens to receive counselling and education, aimed at promoting healthy, positive lifestyles," said Nancy. "Currently, there are 18 KafeTEEN centres, as well as a mobile KafeTEEN truck, delivering reproductive health clinics and psychosocial counselling services to the community."
Nancy also highlighted the importance of peer education, noting that LPPKN has trained peer educators in 143 secondary schools, in partnership with the Education Ministry, to help spread awareness about reproductive health.
The Ministry is also set to introduce the National Family Policy and the National Family Action Plan to further strengthen family institutions and promote social stability. These initiatives focus on empowering families and improving parental and youth involvement in family planning.
In conclusion, Nancy called for a whole-of-society approach to tackling teenage pregnancies, stating, "Efforts to prevent out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies require collective action from all parties to ensure a healthier future generation." - November 20, 2025
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