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High prevalence of c-section births in Indonesia raises health, budget concerns
Despite the stigma that is often attached to it, cesarean section (c-section) births are getting more common in Indonesia. Last year, 17.6 percent of all births were delivered through c-section, according to the Basic Health Research (Riskesdas). This represents a steady rise from 15.3 percent in 2010.
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A nurse holds a baby who was born on board the KRI Dr. Soeharso-990 hospital ship in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Aug. 10, 2018. The Navy hospital ship has assisted the deliveries of seven babies, four of them through caesarean section in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the city on Sept. 28, 2018. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
F
or Sari Tjakrawiralaksana, 42, the pain of giving birth to her son 10 years ago did not only stem from post-caesarean wounds, but also the undermining remarks coming from her relatives.
"Ten years ago in Indonesia, mothers giving birth through caesarean section [c-section] of their own will were not seen as being mothers as a whole," she told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
She recalled her long wait for any cervix dilation, which was nowhere in sight although she had experienced constant and intense contractions every 5 minutes for the whole day. After consulting with her husband and mother, she told her doctor of her decision to proceed with the surgery.
"The decision to resort to a c-section is not and never will be easy for any mother [...] Our considerations at the time were only my son's condition and myself, as at the time I was already exhausted," she said.
