Malaysia Records 45% Bodily Autonomy Score, Study Finds

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Malaysia has laws to protect bodily autonomy for women, but experts and a new report from SIS Forum both say they continue to be constrained in their ability to make choices about what happens to their bodies.

The study revealed that Malaysia's performance on the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) bodily autonomy indicator – which evaluates whether women are able to make informed choices regarding sexual relations, contraception and their reproductive health services – was just 45 percent. The percentage is less than the global average score of 55 percent, and much lower than the regional average score of 76 percent, indicating ongoing difficulties for women in the country.

The results were obtained through a survey of 1004 women of age 18 or older from September to October last year, as well as focus group discussions and interviews. The study found that women are still facing barriers in health services, personal relationships, education, and information and in protection from gender based violence.

The low bodily autonomy score for the country shows that while many people have access to healthcare services and contraception, many women do not feel they have the power to make decisions for themselves in relation to their own health and wellbeing, Dr Maiza Tusimin, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, said.

Key Highlights:

• Malaysia scores 45% on the UNFPA bodily autonomy index.
• Women face barriers in reproductive and healthcare decisions.
• Experts urge stronger legal and social reforms.

To avoid the judgment and the pressure from family or conflict, many women are afraid to express discomfort, ask questions, refuse intimacy and make decisions in a medical setting, she explained. Dr Maiza said that while maintaining a woman's autonomy does not mean her loved ones will be isolated from key discussions, it does mean that her wishes will be front of mind.

She shared the experience she has gained with patients and said that many times the women automatically look to their husbands or relatives for approval before responding to inquiries regarding their own health care preferences.

Issues related to consent in marriage were also raised in the study. Only 52 percent of those respondents who had a spouse or partner indicated that they could always refuse sexual relations if they did not wish to have sex with their spouse/partner.

The traditional gender norms are still influencing people's attitude towards sexual relations, with many women believing sexual relations are a duty to be fulfilled in marriage rather than an issue of mutual choice, Ong Bee Leng, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Women's Development Corporation said. But the results indicate a widespread lack of understanding of women's agency and their right to take decisions over their bodies, said SIS Forum Executive Director Rozana Isa.

The study also highlighted issues of body autonomy for young women. It revealed that 23 per cent of them had undergone period checks in their schools. That number climbed to 31 percent of women ages 18-24 and 36 percent of women ages 25-34.

Dr Maiza explained that it is a medical needless and could be embarrassing for the students, saying that they should never have to reveal their underwear, sanitary products or intimate parts of the body to demonstrate that they are menstruating.

The study also showed responsibility for family planning remains mostly with women. Almost one in five respondents indicated that they had primary responsibility in deciding contraceptive use, while 11 per cent did so for their spouse.

Ong said there are some policies in place in Malaysia to promote gender equality but their implementation is inconsistent. Changing attitudes in families, schools, workplaces, religious institutions and communities will be needed as well as legal changes where they are required, she said, for lasting progress to be made.