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Government’s plan to distribute contraceptives to students draws mixed reactions
Some believe that the new regulation will help prevent teenage pregnancies, which bear serious health consequences for the mothers and baby. However, many have expressed concerns that it will instead promote extra-marital sex among students in the country.
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Illustration of contraceptives. (Courtesy of UNFPA/-)
T
he Health Ministry’s plan to distribute contraceptives to teenagers and students as part of its upcoming reproductive health campaign has sparked both backlash and support from the public.
Some believe that the new regulation will help prevent teenage pregnancies, which bear serious health consequences both for the mothers and babies. However, many have expressed concerns that it will instead promote extramarital sex among students in the country.
The policy was stipulated in the recently issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 28/2024 as an implementing regulation of the 2023 Health Law.
The government seeks to improve students’ reproductive health by educating them about reproductive organs, the consequences of high-risk sexual activities, family planning and how to protect themselves from sexual abuse.
The authorities also plan to provide early detections of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), treatments for reproductive system diseases, counseling and contraceptive devices for students and teenagers.
While the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) lauded the policy, it apparently drew heavy criticism from teacher associations and religious groups who argued that distributing contraceptives to students did not align with Indonesia's societal norms and the religious values in the Muslim majority country.
