Public health experts have called for accessible birth control programs ahead of the so-called new normal, as the number of unplanned pregnancies in the country is expected to spike.
ublic health experts have called for accessible birth control programs ahead of the so-called new normal, as the number of unplanned pregnancies in the country is expected to spike following the physical distancing period amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent data from the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) show that the number of birth control program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic dropped by more than 1 million from January to April.
“The government has committed to revitalizing its birth control program to reduce pregnancies, so that all Indonesian citizens can grow [more healthily]. However, we saw quite a significant decrease in public participation during the current pandemic,” BKKBN head Hasto Wardoyo said during an online seminar held in collaboration with Dharmendra Kumar Tyagi (DKT) Indonesia on Tuesday, as quoted in a statement.
He went on to say that, based on the data gathered by the BKKBN, the use of contraceptives had plummeted to 35 percent across Indonesia in the same period, which could lead to a 15 percent jump in unplanned pregnancies in 2021.
Such a decrease in birth control participation could be attributed to limited access to reproductive health professionals, as many doctors and midwives had closed their clinics amid the pandemic, he said.
“A jump in unplanned pregnancies will cause problems to families amid the economic downturn and other challenges faced by the government,” Hasto added.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) assistant representative Melania Hidayati said at the same event that the phenomenon was not unique to Indonesia, as low public participation in family planning programs had also been recorded in other countries across the globe.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact on family planning programs,” she said.
“We estimate that there will be 7 million unplanned pregnancies should the lockdown remain in place for six months and if contraceptive services are beset with problems.”
DKT Indonesia strategic planning head Aditya Putra said the organization, which focuses on family planning services and HIV/AIDS prevention, would continue to ensure public access to contraceptives through various channels.
In addition, the organization was also committed to donating contraceptives and protective equipment to health workers and members of the public in Greater Jakarta, Central Java and West Java, he added.
“Family planning services must be promoted ahead of the new normal to anticipate a sudden increase in unplanned pregnancies. Securing access to family planning programs means guaranteeing women’s rights to information and services related to reproductive health,” Aditya said.
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