Effort of NGO in Promoting Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Improve Quality of Life among Local and Refugee Communities

Abstract

Federation of Reproductive Health Association, Malaysia (FRHAM) is a pioneer Non-governmental Organization (NGO) in disseminating the knowledge and services of sexual reproductive health in Malaysia. A qualitative case study research design was employed to explore the roles of FRHAM in promoting Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for the well-being of locals and refugees’ communities. In-depth interviews were conducted with the staffs of FRHAM to inquire about their effort in delivering their services. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and emergent themes were identified. FRHAM had played a part as educator, service provider, advocate and actively involved in improving the quality of life among the refugee community. The organization had developed modules for CSE and conducted programs for dissemination of knowledge. They also collaborated with local governmental agencies and other NGOs to promote awareness and utilization of services among the communities. Nevertheless, promoting CSE had experienced many challenges in Malaysia. The perceptions of Malaysian viewing sexuality education as taboos, cultural factors, the reluctance of educators in delivering, and the low visibility of FRHAM are the barriers encountered by FRHAM in promoting CSE. FRHAM recommended including parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the promotion of CSE and acknowledging CSE as an official subject to be implemented in schools. The information from this study may encourage more partnerships between the stakeholders, policy makers and NGOs for providing high quality CSE and sexual reproductive health services.

An analysis on the roles and involvements of different stakeholders in the provision of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Southeast Nigeria

“…In the study area, various NGOs with different priorities have responded to the SRH needs of adolescents. The result is, also, in keeping with findings from previous studies in other countries, such as Tanzania and Malaysia which documented the remarkable contributions by NGOs to ASRH program implementations and sustainability [ 36 , 37 ]. Hence, it is not surprising that NGOs, along with the State Primary health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDA) and the State MOH were identified as ‘savior’, in this study, in the area of technical support and capacity building.…”

At the limits of “capability”: The sexual and reproductive health of women migrant workers in Malaysia

“…We note efforts by coalitions of NGOs and activists to “normalise” perceptions that migrants are a part of Malaysian society should not face discrimination and that their productive and family rights deserve legal protection (Migrant Workers’ Right to Redress Coalition, 2017). Similarly, the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations promote comprehensive sex education for local and migrant communities within Malaysia and advocate access to SRH resources for marginalised and vulnerable populations including migrants and refugees (Jiar et al, 2018). The question is to what extent such advocacy can shift public and governmental perception of migrants to change current policy.…”

Meningkatkan Akses Pendidikan Berkualitas Melalui Program Pengabdian Masyarakat di Provinsi Jawa Tengah: Pendekatan Inklusif dan Berbasis Teknologi

“…Sebagai contoh, Federasi Asosiasi Kesehatan Reproduksi, Malaysia (FRHAM) telah mengembangkan modul untuk Pendidikan Seksualitas Komprehensif (Comprehensive Sexuality Education/CSE) dan melaksanakan program-program untuk penyebaran pengetahuan. Mereka juga berkolaborasi dengan lembaga pemerintah setempat dan LSM lainnya untuk mempromosikan kesadaran dan pemanfaatan layanan di antara masyarakat (Jiar et al, 2018). Pelatihan internal adalah metode pelatihan yang dilakukan di sekolah masing-masing, di mana para guru mengimplementasikan program instruksional.…”