Pregnancy and sports are not incompatible

Pregnancy too often remains a period when the woman diminishes her sporting practice. Yet the sport is beneficial for the pregnant woman provided to respect some basic rules.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF PRACTICING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY?

Physical exercise in pregnant women promotes good physical condition and limits excessive weight gain due to sedentary lifestyle. Less than 25% of pregnant women follow the recommendations of physical activity that are 30 minutes walking briskly, day ¹.

Sport is also beneficial for maintaining a good psychological state and limiting potential stress associated with pregnancy, through the release of endorphins by the brain during and after physical activity.

Women who practiced regular physical activity during pregnancy, and who continued in the third quarter would be less tired and more energetic clearly from the 4^th or 5^th day after delivery ².

WHAT ARE THE POINTS OF VIGILANCE?

A medical assessment is first necessary before physical activity to verify that there are no contraindications. This medical opinion can be re-evaluated according to the follow-up of the pregnancy.

During these 9 months, the body is transformed, so it is necessary to adapt to these changes during a physical exercise. The weight evolution is accompanied by an enhancement of the center of gravity, thus modifying the equilibrium of the body. The heart rate increases and breathing is modified by intra-abdominal pressure, which contributes to the increase in oxygen consumption.

We also note for all the joints, the appearance of a ligament hyperlaxity whose origin seems to be hormonal and which can represent a new instability for the pregnant woman.

The spirit of competition is to be set aside! The goal is to maintain good physical fitness by practicing a reasoned physical activity, without seeking the maximum effort.

WHICH ACTIVITIES TO PRIVILEGE?

During pregnancy:

The choice of physical activity must be compatible with pregnancy, ie avoid loss of balance and trauma.

It is not advisable to practice contact sports such as basketball, handball, or volleyball; Combat sports, such as karate, judo; Sports that involve a risk of falling such as riding, snow sports, mountain biking, climbing, etc. Underwater diving (with bottle) is also contraindicated.

Among the activities recommended during pregnancy include:

• Walking: it remains by far the most practiced activity, accessible to all including the less sporty ones.
• Swimming: it makes it possible to work smoothly all the great muscular chains. In the water, the body is lighter and the movements are easier. All swims are allowed provided they do not force. Swimming on the back is particularly interesting because it relieves the spine. Finally, do not hesitate to adopt boards and chips as accessories!
• Soft gymnastics or yoga: these activities can be practiced with respiratory and postural exercises adapted to pregnancy. The exercises lying down, however, are to be avoided from the 4^th month.
• The exercise bike: it is possible to practice the exercise bike without intense effort, i.e. without significant shortness of breath (i.e. 60-70% of the maximum heart rate).

These activities are possible up to and including the third quarter but should not be considered for performance intent. In addition, you must know how to listen to your body, and do not hesitate to consult your healthcare professional if you are uncertain about your physical condition.

After childbirth:

Most physiological and morphological changes induced by pregnancy persist until 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. Post-natal visit is essential to get your doctor's recommendations. A rehabilitation of the perineum is often necessary to restore all its tonicity to this zone muscular perturbed by the delivery.

You will then be able to take up the sport in a progressive way, favoring moderate activities (yoga, gymnastics, swimming, cycling, walking ...).

Moderate physical exercise during breastfeeding does not affect the amount or composition of breast milk. To avoid unpleasant problems caused by breast engorgement, it is recommended to schedule feedings or breast milk before exercise. Do not forget to hydrate yourself!

1 Les cahiers du pôle - Sport and Maternity, Physical Activity and Maternity, Dr Carole Maitre, Medical Department of INSEP, January 2010.

2 Artal R, O'Toole M. Guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for exercise during pregnancy and post-partum period. Br J Sports Med 2003; 37: 6-12.

Source: Lescuyer Laboratory

Micronutrition, even during breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed the newborn and its benefits are multiple: nutritional, physiological and emotional, creating a strong and unique relationship between mother and baby. Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby because it is specifically adapted to it. It is alive and inimitable: its composition evolves over time to adapt and precisely cover the nutritional needs of the infant.

ESSENTIAL MICRONUTRIENTS

Increased intake!

Woman breastfeeding her baby

Breastfeeding requires good hydration, a varied diet of the mother to develop the tastes in the child, and must bring all that is necessary for the good development of the child.

As in pregnancy, breastfeeding is accompanied by an increase in the need for certain nutrients that she does not find in her usual diet in sufficient quantity: vitamins, minerals, omega 3...

It is therefore advisable for lactating women to supplement their diet by providing a suitable nutritional and micronutrient source in order to optimize breastfeeding as their needs change.

Keep fit and morale!

The arrival of a baby in the life of a woman is something magical but for all that is a real upheaval! Fatigue, cries, tears, anxieties, interrupted nights ... it is sometimes difficult to keep up the morale and stay in shape! Supplementation with certain nutrients is recommended to deal with this discomfort. For example:

of omega-3 (DHA / EPA) to support the normal functioning of the brain,

of vitamin D to boost immunity,

of vitamin C to regain shape!

Source: Lescuyer Laboratory

What Micronutritional Accompanying Adoption during Pregnancy?

The body of the future mother lives a true metamorphosis for 9 months. Physical and physiological changes are considerable and also require appropriate and balanced intake of nutrients and energy. Therefore, micronutritional support is advised to pregnant women to contribute to their health and that of their baby.

THE MINERALS

Magnesium

Although needs increase by only 10% during pregnancy, magnesium is important for both the baby and the mother. The organism does not produce magnesium, so it is through diet and / or supplementation that the body constitutes its reserves. It helps in particular the fixation of the calcium on the bones.

Iron, for a good oxygenation of the tissues

Iron requirements are increased due to increased total blood volume, placenta and fetal needs (mainly for brain development) and loss of blood at delivery. A lack of iron can cause fatigue and fatigue in the mother.

Despite an iron-rich diet, the needs are so great that the stock is rapidly depleted, especially during the last 2 quarters. Since the body is unable to synthesize iron, complementation may be beneficial.

Iodine, not to be forgotten!

Pregnancy is a major consumer of iodine. Indeed, a deficit can have consequences on the development of the brain of the future baby.

THE VITAMINS

Vitamin D, for strong bones

The need for vitamin D are doubled during pregnancy. In order to optimize the absorption of calcium, vitamin D contributes to better mineralization of the fetal skeleton and thus to the strength of the bones.

Vitamin C to reduce fatigue

The vitamin C helps to limit fatigue, participates in the functioning of the immune system. Vitamin C also intervenes in the formation of nervous tissues and promotes the absorption of iron. The body cannot store large amounts of vitamin C, only a daily intake can have the desired effect.

These vitamins are particularly important but do not forget the other vitamins (A in the form of beta-carotene, B1, B5, B6 etc.). Taking a quality multivitamin supplement can help you have the right balance of vitamins throughout your pregnancy.

OMEGA 3

The Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fatty acids which the most important are DHA ¹ and EPA ². These "good fats" contribute both to the health of the pregnant woman and to that of the fetus. DHA, for example, has a favorable effect on the brain of the baby ³ but also on the development of its visual acuity ⁴.

A supplement in omega 3 can be interesting during pregnancy, making sure to stop in the last trimester!

ANTIOXIDANTS!

Throughout pregnancy, it is advisable for mothers to give priority to antioxidants, for her but also for their baby (vitamins E, C, A in the form of beta-carotene, carotenoids or even certain polyphenols).

THE LACTIC FERMENTS, GOOD BACTERIA

The intestine of the fetus in the uterus is sterile. Within hours of its birth, its intestine is colonized by bacteria. Indeed, during the delivery by low way the mother transmits her flora to her infant. Moreover, this flora depends on the baby's diet, but also on the mother's flora.

This is why it is important that the mother has a healthy and balanced intestinal flora. The taking of lactic ferments during pregnancy, and especially before delivery, can have a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora of the mother as well as on the development of the intestinal flora of the child.

1 Docosahexaenoic acid

2 Eicosapentaenoic acid.

3 The beneficial effect is obtained by the daily intake of 200 mg of DHA, in addition to the consumption.

4 The beneficial effect is obtained by the daily consumption of 250 mg of DHA.

Source: Lescuyer Laboratory

Pregnancy: what food to privilege?

Pregnancy leads to physiological changes in your body and requires special attention. Your diet must be balanced and respect certain principles so that the pregnancy takes place in the best conditions.

ADAPT YOUR HYDRATION

Water is the first exchange between you and the child. One of the most important changes in pregnant women is the increase in the water supply. Thus, fruits and vegetables are allies of choice for good hydration, in addition to the drinking water at the rate of 1.5 to 2 liters per day. In addition, fruits and vegetables facilitate the elimination of metabolic waste from the fetus.

Your "Moisturizing" menu

• Velvety of zucchini with paprika,
• Bar fillets with yellow pepper,
• Spinach shoot salad,
• Yoghurt with soy, pear.

FOCUS ON ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY

The folate (mache, walnut, melon) contribute to the smooth progress of your pregnancy and the calcium (feta pasteurized), associated with vitamin D, and intervenes in the formation of the skeleton of the future baby. In parallel, your iron and iodine (mackerel) requirements, which are essential for the growth of the fetus, increase. It is therefore necessary to adapt your diet.

Your "Harmonious Pregnancy" menu

• Mix of cheese and nuts in rapeseed oil
• Mackerel with mustard
• Green beans in fagot
• Melon and feta cheese salad.

ADVICE IN PLUS

During pregnancy, your body is more fragile. It is recommended to avoid certain foods such as sausage, raw or uncooked meat and certain cheeses (raw milk, soft cheese ...). Take the time to wash the food (fruits, vegetables, herbs ...) to eliminate any harmful residue (pesticides for example).

Your doctor remains your best counselor for any questions you may have.

Source: Lescuyer Laboratory

Thailand - Abortion legal in some Zika cases, child health unit says

Photo Credit: WHO/PAHO

ABORTION is a legal choice for Zika-infected women.

“A panel of at least two doctors will provide close consultation to parents in discussing the option of pregnancy termination in microcephaly cases,” Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunond, a specialist at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, a unit of the Medical Services Department, said yesterday.

Under Thai law, pregnancies may be terminated on reasonable grounds such as a serious disease when the foetus is not over 24 weeks old.

Late last week, Thailand confirmed its first two cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that has been linked to Zika.

“Not all babies born to Zika-infected women get microcephaly. The odds are 1-30 per cent,” said Tawee, who was speaking as the chairman of a meeting on the guidelines for caring for expectant women who are suspected of carrying the Zika virus.

The meeting brought together medical specialists from various hospitals as well as Professor Pisek Lumpikanon, president of the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Pisek said the guidelines were prepared and released to address Zika risks.

For example, if pregnant women suffer Zika-related symptoms such as a skin rash, joint pain or eye inflammation, they must immediately undergo urine and blood tests.

“If the tests show they caught the Zika virus, no matter how advanced their pregnancy is, they must undergo an ultrasound check immediately too,” he said, “Monthly checks are also necessary. If the head size of the foetus inside their womb is smaller than standard, they must be referred to medical specialists”.

Pregnant women without any Zika-related symptoms should undergo ultrasound checks twice – 18-20 weeks into their pregnancy and 28-30 weeks.

“If microcephaly is detected, parents and doctors will have close consultations about how to proceed in the best interests of both the mother and baby,” he said.

Tawee said that if microcephaly were detected when a pregnancy had already progressed more than 24 weeks, any decision made would be on a case-by-case basis.

Mosquitoes are Zika vectors. Zika can also be spread via sexual activities.

Tawee said Thailand was the first Asian country to develop Zika guidelines for future mothers.

Puangchompoo Prasert

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Thailand - Thailand considers Zika tests for all pregnant women

A city worker fumigates the area to control the spread of mosquitoes at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom/File Photo

Thailand is considering testing all pregnant women for Zika, the health ministry said on Monday, following confirmation last week of its first known cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size, linked to the Zika virus.

The two confirmed cases of microcephaly were the first in Southeast Asia linked to mosquito-borne Zika, which has been spreading in the region after outbreaks in the Americas.

"The health minister has asked us to study whether this is necessary and cost-effective," health ministry permanent secretary Sophon Mekthon told Reuters, referring to free tests for all pregnant women.

A Zika test costs about 2,000 baht ($58) but repeat tests are often needed, Sophon said.

"At the moment, we check pregnant women in Zika-affected areas only, not all pregnant women. So far, we've tested about 1,000 pregnant women."

Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly - a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized - as well as other brain abnormalities.

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly.

Thailand has confirmed 392 Zika cases since January, including 39 pregnant women, and Singapore has recorded 393 Zika cases, including 16 pregnant women.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people should consider postponing travel to Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.

The CDC has already issued a "travel notice" for Singapore.

There is no vaccine or treatment and an estimated 80 percent of people infected with Zika have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.

Sexual transmission of the virus has also been reported.

Zika testing is free in Singapore for pregnant women with symptoms of the virus or with male partners who are Zika-positive. Pregnant women without symptoms get subsidized tests.

Some health experts have accused tourism-dependent Thailand of playing down the Zika risk but health officials have dismissed that.

Health authorities in the region say they are stepping up monitoring, but there has been little testing and some officials say the real number of cases was bound to be higher than the confirmed figure.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia have all reported at least one case.

In adults, Zika infections have also been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre, as well as other neurological disorders.

(Additonal reporting by Fathin Ungku in SINGAPORE; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat

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Vietnam - Developing national nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and lactating mothers

In order to enhance the health of women of reproductive age and and the stature of Vietnamese people, the Ministry of Health has launched the “Improvement of nutritional status for pregnant women and lactating mothers” project. On 21 September 2016, the Vietnam Ministry of Health and Abbott, the global healthcare company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to kick start the project.

Nutritional deficiencies in pregnant mothers can mean increased risks for children. The nutritional status of women during pregnancy can have significant impacts on fetal, infant and child health status. Proper nutrition for mothers can also support breast milk production.

Micronutrient deficiencies of calcium, iron, vitamin A and iodine, for example, can lead to poor maternal health status, adversely affecting mothers and unborn babies. Poor maternal weight gain in pregnancy due to inadequate diet increases the risk of premature delivery, low birth weight and birth defects.

Malnutrition stunting the growth of Vietnamese children under 5 years old is still at a high level. This  is partly caused by nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation. As reported by the National Institute of Nutrition, the rate of stunting due to malnutrition in Vietnamese children was 24.6% in 2015; the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women was 80.3%, and that of anemia was 32.8%. The leading cause of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women is inadequate maternal nutrition.

Improve health and stature of Vietnamese people

The National Strategy on Nutrition for 2011 - 2020 and the national vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister identified that providing early nutritional intervention for women of reproductive age, pregnant women and during the golden period of the child’s first 1.000 days -- beginning at the start of a woman’s pregnancy -- is essential to improve physical stature.

For this reason, the Ministry and Abbott came together on September 21 in Hanoi to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the “Improvement of nutritional status for pregnant women and lactating mothers” project.

The project will focus on activities including: developing national nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and lactating mothers; enhancing nutritional knowledge for health care staff and members of the Vietnam Women's Union through implementation of national nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and lactating mothers; and other similar initiatives.

National nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and lactating mothers will be developed and applied across Vietnam. These guidelines will be based on clinical research findings and will become the scientific basis for health care professionals, pregnant women and lactating mothers to practice good nutrition. This will ensure the health of mothers and children and support breastfeeding and a strong foundation for the child's health throughout their lives.

The Ministry and Abbott will also implement the “Improvement of clinical nutritional quality in hospitals in Vietnam” project to improve inpatients’ health and the efficiency of clinical treatment in hospitals.

"These two projects will also contribute to a faster decline of stunting due to malnutrition," Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien said.

Abbott is a global health care company which has brought new products and technologies to the world -- in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals -- to create more possibilities for people at all stages of life. Abbott has implemented several programs to improve the quality of clinical nutrition and breastfeeding in Vietnam.

“As a science-based healthcare company, we are dedicated to helping people live the best and fullest life possible. The agreements we signed with the Ministry of Health reinforces Abbott’s continued commitment to the country – to bring practical and relevant guidelines to healthcare professionals, enhance the community's quality of life, and improve public healthcare in Vietnam in the long term,” said Douglas Kuo, General Manager of Abbott Vietnam.

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Myanmar - The baby blues

Women in Myanmar enduring the misery of postpartum depression can expect to suffer in silence and one reason is a paucity of health professionals with knowledge of the illness.

THE BIRTH of a baby is typically a time of celebration, joy and good fortune. Yet there are those who find themselves with a far different experience – one of crippling depression, physical exhaustion and even thoughts of suicide. The cause is an easily detectable yet widely undiagnosed culprit: postpartum depression.

Also called postnatal depression or postpartum blues, postpartum depression is a form of clinical depression that can affect both sexes after childbirth, though it most commonly diagnosed in women. 

The symptoms include anxiety, low energy, extreme sadness and sleep deprivation.

The exact cause of PPD is unknown, but hypothesised potential causes include genetic predisposition and hormonal changes resulting from pregnancy. External factors such as birth-related trauma, major life events or changes, low social support and socioeconomic status have also been suggested as being likely to increase the risk.

"Many of us don’t know what it is and because of that we suffer in silence."

“[In Myanmar] training on postpartum depression and any other forms of mental health disorders is poor to non-existent,” said Ms Gracia Fellmeth, a researcher at Oxford University who has studied PPD in Myanmar. “General healthcare staff, such as medics, nurses and midwives, normally receive very little teaching on this subject.”

Fellmeth’s statement isn’t unfounded. Staff at Yangon Central Women’s Hospital said they were not aware of PPD treatment being provided there. Mr Daniel Crapper, the deputy country director of Population Services International, a US-based non-government organisation that has provided reproductive health and other programs in Myanmar since 1995, said the organisation has “no specific information or knowledge” about PPD in Myanmar.

The 2006 World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS) found that there were 265 people working in mental health facilities or private practice in Myanmar, a rate of 0.477 for every 100,000 people, with no mention of maternal-specific resources – a statistic that further highlights the lack of mental health care in the country.

“This topic is something that is neglected and ignored in society,” said Daw Htar Htar, the founder and director of Akhaya Women, an organisation that engages and educates women about emotional, social and sexual health issues.

“Many of us don’t know what it is and because of that we suffer in silence,” she said.

Htar Htar said common birthing practices and procedures typically remove power from the mother. They are often a source of increased anxiety and stress, both of which are considered possible triggers of PPD in women.

“Women in Myanmar are often cut when they are giving birth,” she said, referring to the procedure known as an episiotomy that makes birth easier and prevents severe tears. “Even when they don’t want to be, they are given no choice and it can be traumatising.”

Some post-natal rituals and traditional beliefs, such as isolating the mother for long periods, can also create added stress on postpartum mothers, she said.

“Women are often considered the lowest in their life after they give birth. People consider them dirty and untouchable,” Htar Htar said. “In some parts of Myanmar women are subjected to practices such as being wrapped with a mat and instructed to stand over boiling water, so that they are ‘purified’, causing them to pass out. These things are hard on women.”

The side effects of PPD can also have social and economic ramifications that linger long past the depression itself.

There can be negative financial effects because many employers are “unwilling to employ women with mental disorders due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the conditions”, said Fellmeth. “Women who previously were financially independent or able to contribute to household finances may therefore no longer be able to do so.”

Fellmeth said evidence was emerging that showed perinatal depression – associated with the period immediately before and after birth – could also affect the newborn child.

“There is a growing body of evidence that shows perinatal depression has lasting physical, cognitive, social and emotional effects on children,” she said. “Mothers with depression are less likely to form a strong bond with their infants and less likely to breastfeed. Infants of depressed mothers are more likely to have low birth weight and experience stunting, malnutrition and diarrheal infections in childhood.”

However, there have been some positive developments. NGOs and research projects, such as the one in which Fellmeth is involved, are taking steps to gain a better understanding of methods for diagnosing and treating PPD in Myanmar.

“We found that if women were not depressed, they didn't mind being asked these questions: If they were depressed, they were pleased to have an opportunity to talk,” said Fellmeth. “For many women it was the very first time they had ever had the opportunity to talk about how they feel and they were thankful for the opportunity.”

Screening tools for PPD, such as questionnaires, have been translated into Myanmar and have proven effective in early detection of the disease. A class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that provide relief from the symptoms of PPD are becoming increasingly available at health centres and hospitals.

Htar Htar said the number of doctors with training in PPD was slowly increasing, but they were more likely to be concentrated in big cities such as Yangon and Mandalay.

She said many cultural changes were needed in order to address women’s health issues more comprehensively.

“Until women are seen and included as equal to men, there will always be unfair practices in this country,” she said. “There is still much to be done.”

Victoria Milko

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Vietnam - Projects to focus on pregnant women, lactating mothers

Pregnant women, lactating mothers and clinical patients will benefit from two nutrition improvement projects signed between the Ministry of Health and Abbott Company at a ceremony today in Hà Nội. — VNS Photo Thanh Hải

Pregnant women, lactating mothers and clinical patients will benefit from two nutrition improvement projects signed between the Ministry of Health and Abbott Company at a ceremony today in Hà Nội.

“The two projects will contribute to the improvement of the nutrition status of the people, especially to the faster decline of stunting malnutrition in Việt Nam and the enhancement of inpatients’ health and clinical treatment efficiency in hospitals,” Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Việt Tiến said at the signing ceremony.

The project on improvement of the nutrition status for pregnant women and lactating mothers will focus its activities on developing a National Nutrition Guideline. It will also help to increase knowledge about nutrition in healthcare staff and members of the Việt Nam Women’s Union through implementation of the National Nutrition Guideline for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The project on improvement of clinical nutrition quality in hospitals in Việt Nam will focus on developing a quality improvement programme (QIP) for clinical nutrition to be implemented in hospitals.

The National Strategy on Nutrition for the period 2011-2020 and vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister has identified that an important direction to improve people’s health is providing early nutrition intervention for women of reproductive age, pregnant women and children during the golden period of the first 1,000 days.

The two projects will help the health ministry implement the National Strategy on Nutrition and enhance inpatients’ health and clinical treatment efficiency in hospitals in Việt Nam.

A report of the National Institute of Nutrition showed that the rate of childhood stunting in 2014 was 24.9 per cent, the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women was 80.3 per cent and that of anemia was 32.8 per cent.

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Malaysia - Government adopts cafe approach to check teen pregnancies, premarital sex

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — While initiatives implemented by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) to check immoral behaviour among young Malaysians have been successful to a certain extent, their sexual behaviour and lack of knowledge on matters related to reproductive health and sexuality continue to be worrying.

LPPKN Chairman Datuk Mariam Mas Yacob said studies carried out previously by various government agencies have revealed that social problems like premarital sex, rape, pregnancy out of wedlock, baby dumping, sexually-transmitted diseases and sexual abuse among adolescents and teenagers were on the rise.

She said in view of this, and having recognised that lack of sufficient knowledge on sexuality and reproduction was causing teenagers to go astray, LPPKN developed an intervention programme in 2006 that focused on the provision of youth-friendly health services through a network of kafe@TEEN centres.

These centres provide, among others, counselling services and advice on reproductive health, as well as health and social education, to adolescents and youths to enable them to make responsible choices on matters related to their sexuality.

According to statistics revealed by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya last September, about 18,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2014.

As for baby dumping or abandonment, an average of 90 cases was reported yearly between 2008 and 2013.

Health Ministry statistics on students diagnosed with HIV and AIDS between 2008 and 2012 reflected an upward trend — in 2008, 28 were infected with HIV while seven had contracted AIDS, and by 2012, the numbers had increased sharply to 170 HIV and 16 AIDS cases involving students.

While there are no statistics to quantify the effectiveness of the kafe@TEEN initiative in checking social ills among young people in Malaysia over the last decade, Mariam Mas nevertheless contended that it remained the best platform for youths aged between 13 and 24 to obtain information and knowledge on reproductive health and sexuality.

“It’s hard for them to get the information they want from their families because talking about sex or sexuality is taboo. Then there are those parents who are too busy with their work or business to even have the time to talk to their children about these matters.

“Our kafe@TEEN centres are, therefore, ideal places for youngsters to discuss such sensitive issues comfortably and get more information from health personnel,” she told Bernama.

The kafe@TEEN programme kicked off in 2006 with the establishment of two centres, one situated at the LPPKN headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Butterworth, Penang.

There are currently 15 centres, located in Kedah, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak. Seven of these centres are located at the Urban Transformation Centres (UTC) in Pudu and Keramat in Kuala Lumpur; and one each in Melaka, Kuantan, Alor Setar, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu.

Two more kafe@TEEN centres are set to open soon in Tawau, Sabah and Putrajaya. Mariam Mas said the youth-friendly kafe@TEEN concept has made it easier for youths to seek medical help, counselling services, information on reproductive health and even nutritional advice from medical officers, LPPKN nurses and counsellors, nutritional experts, information officers and educators.

The centres also come complete with a mini library and Internet services.

 “Our main objective is to help mould our youths into healthy, resilient and responsible people who possess good moral values and are able to cope well with the challenges they may face in their lives,” said Mariam Mas.

She said by having access to accurate and vital information on matters like sexuality and reproductive health via the kafe@TEEN centres, adolescents and teenagers would find themselves in a better position to make more informed choices and stay away from premarital sex and other social problems.

“It also reduces the risk of them suffering from an identity crisis or having unnatural sexual orientations like lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT),” she said.

Mariam Mas said the kafe@TEEN centres also provide educational and skill-building programmes to enable youths to pick up personal development skills and also participate in recreational activities.

“The centres enable the youngsters to make new friends, which indirectly improves their social interaction skills. Their self-confidence also improves when they start communicating with their newly acquainted friends,” she said.

According to Mariam Mas, LPPKN also conducted kafe@TEEN outreach programmes at schools and has succeeded in reaching out to 476,193 students between 2006 and February 2016.

She said over the same period, some 6,064 youths had obtained social counselling services at the various kafe@TEEN centres, while another 20,353 had received reproductive health services.

A total of 317,657 youths had taken part in the educational and skill-building programmes conducted by the centres.

Describing youths as an important asset to the nation’s development agenda, Mariam Mas said kafe@TEEN also encouraged them to become the agents of change by getting involved in volunteer activities.

She said kafe@TEEN had in 2014 and 2015 collaborated with 1Malaysia For Youth or iM4U — Malaysia’s youth volunteerism platform to nurture and inculcate volunteerism into the hearts of the youth — to conduct workshops for iM4U volunteers to equip them with knowledge and skills related to reproductive health and social behaviour.

“These workshops will equip kafe@TEEN and iM4U volunteers with the relevant knowledge to act as peer counsellors, as well as facilitators of our programmes,” she added.

Meanwhile, youths who wish to use the kafe@TEEN facilities and services and participate in their programmes must first register themselves as members at the kafe@TEEN centre located closest to them.

To qualify as a member, they must be single and aged between 13 and 24. Registration is free. The kafe@TEEN centre at the LPPKN headquarters is open from Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm.

The kafe@TEEN centres located at the various UTCs are open seven days a week, from 8.30am to 10.30pm.

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