Page 10 - Technical Report: ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN MALAYSIA: A SCOPING REVIEW

4.0 METHODS
The scoping review used in this study was based on the framework developed by Arksey
and O'Malley (2005), and Levac et al (2010). Meanwhile, Colquhoun et al. (2014) proposed
a review procedure with at least five stages, as describe below:

4.1 Identifying the research questions
These research questions were based on selected themes in the Adolescent Sexual and
Reproductive Health Framework (WHO, 2007) (Appendix 1). The research questions are as
follows:

a) What are the existing trends and patterns in Malaysia's adolescent sexual and
reproductive health?
b) What factors contribute to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in
Malaysia?
c) What is the level of awareness, and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health?
d) What are Malaysia's intervention strategies for adolescent sexual and reproductive
health?

4.2 Identifying relevant studies
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant research reporting
on Malaysian adolescents' sexual and reproductive behaviours. The review focused on
peer-reviewed studies on ASRH that were published in Malaysia between January 2004
and June 2018. This time frame was chosen as a continuation of WHO's previous study
(2007), which focused on ASRH studies till the end of 2003. Thus, the search identified
studies from electronic databases of published articles such as Google Scholar,
MEDLINE, and PubMed (all relevant studies from qualitative, quantitative, mixed, or multi-
methods, including comparative (for example, case-control, cohort, and randomised), and
non-comparative studies) (for example, survey and narrative). Grey literature, particularly
unpublished publications such as theses and reports, were included in the record search.

These inclusion criteria guided the search and supported in the identification of suitable
sources. The following criterias applied to inclusion:

a) Research conducted in Malaysia.
b) Published online in electronic databases and grey literature.
c) Published in English language.
d) Published between January 2004 and June 2018.

The search strategy included a range of relevant keyword combinations. The key
search terms used in the search are shown in Appendix 2. Data and record management
used Mendeley for searching, keeping track of articles, and sorting.

4.3 Study selection

The third stage of the framework is study selection, which aimed to identify studies that
are in line with the proposed review objectives. This stage was conducted in two steps as
follows:

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