Deputy minister: 6,144 teenage pregnancies recorded since 2023, peer pressure and poverty among factors

AI Summary

Over 6,000 teenage pregnancies were reported in Malaysia between 2023 and March 2025, according to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. Citing Health Ministry data, 2,737 cases occurred in 2023, 2,752 in 2024, and 655 in the first quarter of 2025. Limited access to comprehensive reproductive health education, peer pressure, media influence, poverty, school dropouts, and lack of job opportunities were identified as contributing factors. The ministry is addressing the issue through initiatives like the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEKERTI) module and an action plan to tackle underage marriages.