Discovery of Knowledge and Perception among the Indigenous People Related to Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Education

Rusli NIF; Hazidan ANZ; abdul Razak RNH; Abd. Jalil MA; Md Isa ML

Original Article Published on 14 Mar, 2024

Discovery of Knowledge and Perception among the Indigenous People Related to Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Education

Indigenous View on Teenage Pregnancy and Education

Vol. 19 No. 1 : 2024 (220-229)

Rusli NIF

Hazidan ANZ

abdul Razak RNH

Abd. Jalil MA

Md Isa ML

Abstract

This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of sexual education and teenage pregnancy among Indigenous people in Pekan, Malaysia. The research aimed to address the high rates of teenage pregnancy, particularly among unmarried teenagers, in the country. Through qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with Indigenous participants, several themes emerged. These themes included the sources of sexual education, such as formal and informal channels, first sexual experiences, safe-sex beliefs, and the importance of sexual education for children. The study also explored perceptions of teenage pregnancy, identifying factors like young marriage and premarital dating. Participants shared their views on premarital motherhood among those under 20 years old, as well as the acceptance and responses of parents and the responsibility of the baby’s father. The study highlighted the complications of teenage pregnancy for both the baby and mother. The findings revealed a lack of sexual education knowledge among Indigenous participants, attributed to limited access to facilities like mobile phones and limited interaction with outsiders. The study recommends further research and the dissemination of awareness and knowledge about sexual education, particularly through campaigns and outreach efforts to Indigenous communities, while also emphasise the need to review the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Keywords : Indigenous people, sexual education, teenage pregnancy,

Abstrak

Penyelidikan ini mengkaji tentang pengetahuan dan persepsi pendidikan seksual dan kehamilan remaja di kalangan Orang Asli di Pekan, Malaysia. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menangani kadar kehamilan remaja yang tinggi, terutama di kalangan remaja yang belum berkahwin di negara ini. Melalui kaedah kualitatif, termasuk wawancara separa berstruktur dengan peserta Orang Asli, beberapa tema telah muncul. Tema-tema ini merangkumi sumber-sumber pendidikan seksual, seperti saluran formal dan tidak formal, pengalaman seksual pertama, kepercayaan seks selamat dan kepentingan pendidikan seksual untuk anak-anak. Kajian ini juga meneroka persepsi kehamilan remaja, mengenal pasti faktor-faktor seperti perkahwinan muda dan temu janji pranikah. Para peserta berkongsi tentang pandangan mereka mengenai keibuan pranikah di antara mereka yang berumur di bawah 20 tahun, serta penerimaan dan tindak balas ibu bapa dan tanggungjawab bapa bayi. Kajian ini menunjukkan komplikasi kehamilan remaja untuk bayi dan ibu. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kurangnya pengetahuan pendidikan seksual di kalangan peserta Orang Asli yang disebabkan oleh akses terhad kepada kemudahan seperti telefon bimbit dan interaksi terhad dengan orang luar. Kajian ini mengesyorkan penyelidikan lebih lanjut, penyebaran kesedaran dan pengetahuan mengenai pendidikan seksual, terutama melalui kempen dan usaha jangkauan kepada masyarakat Orang Asli, sambil menekankan keperluan untuk mengkaji semula keberkesanan inisiatif ini.

Kata Kunci : Kehamilan remaja, Orang Asli, pendidikan seksual,

Correspondance Address

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Lokman bin Md Isa. Institute of Planetary Survival for Sustainable Well-being (PLANETIIUM), International Islamic University Malaysia, Level 2, Jalan Hospital, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Tel: +609-570 7259 Email: lokman@iium.edu.my

References

Abdullah, R., Wan Mamat, W.H., Amir Zal, W.A., Ibrahim, A.M. 2013. Teaching and learning problems of the Orang Asli education: Students’ perspective. Asian Soc Sci 9(12): 118-24.

Ford, E.J., Cade, T.J., Doyle, L.W., Umstad, M.P. 2018. Pregnancy risk factors associated with birthweight of infants born to Australian Aboriginal women in an urban setting - Aretrospective cohort study. BMC Preg Childbirth 18(1): 1-8.

Kamaruddin, K., Idris, S., Jusoh, O. 2008. Educational policy and opportunities of Orang Asli : A study on indigenious people in Malaysia. J Hum Resour Adult Learning 4(1): 86-97.

Madjid, O.A., Roesman, N.I.S. 2014. Complication on teenage pregnancy and related factors. Indonesian J Obstet Gynecol 2(1): 10-2.

Mudonhi, N., Nunu, W.N., Ndlovu, B., Khumalo, N., Dube, O. 2019. Adolescents and parents’ perceptions of condom distribution in selected secondary schools in the high-density suburbs of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Sex Cult 24(3): 485-503.

Murtaza, S.F., Gan, W.Y., Sulaiman, N., Mohd Shariff, Z., Ismail, S.I.F. 2019. Sociodemographic, nutritional and environmental factors are associated with cognitive performance among Orang Asli children in Malaysia. PLoS One 14(7): e0219841.

Nik Farid, N.D., Dahlui, M., Che Rus, S., Aziz N.A., Al-Sadat, N. 2015. Early sexual initiation among malaysian adolescents in welfare institutions: A qualitative study. Arts Social Sci J 6: 4.

Zain Al-Dien, M.M. 2010. Perceptions of sex education among muslim adolescents in Canada. J Muslim Minor Aff 30(3): 391-407.

Correspondance Address

Abdullah, R., Wan Mamat, W.H., Amir Zal, W.A., Ibrahim, A.M. 2013. Teaching and learning problems of the Orang Asli education: Students’ perspective. Asian Soc Sci 9(12): 118-24.

Ford, E.J., Cade, T.J., Doyle, L.W., Umstad, M.P. 2018. Pregnancy risk factors associated with birthweight of infants born to Australian Aboriginal women in an urban setting - Aretrospective cohort study. BMC Preg Childbirth 18(1): 1-8.

Kamaruddin, K., Idris, S., Jusoh, O. 2008. Educational policy and opportunities of Orang Asli : A study on indigenious people in Malaysia. J Hum Resour Adult Learning 4(1): 86-97.

Madjid, O.A., Roesman, N.I.S. 2014. Complication on teenage pregnancy and related factors. Indonesian J Obstet Gynecol 2(1): 10-2.

Mudonhi, N., Nunu, W.N., Ndlovu, B., Khumalo, N., Dube, O. 2019. Adolescents and parents’ perceptions of condom distribution in selected secondary schools in the high-density suburbs of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Sex Cult 24(3): 485-503.

Murtaza, S.F., Gan, W.Y., Sulaiman, N., Mohd Shariff, Z., Ismail, S.I.F. 2019. Sociodemographic, nutritional and environmental factors are associated with cognitive performance among Orang Asli children in Malaysia. PLoS One 14(7): e0219841.

Nik Farid, N.D., Dahlui, M., Che Rus, S., Aziz N.A., Al-Sadat, N. 2015. Early sexual initiation among malaysian adolescents in welfare institutions: A qualitative study. Arts Social Sci J 6: 4.

Zain Al-Dien, M.M. 2010. Perceptions of sex education among muslim adolescents in Canada. J Muslim Minor Aff 30(3): 391-407.