"It is expected that 70 percent out of the 4.8 million mothers could use contraception immediately after labor," BKKBN's Head, Hasto Wardoyo, noted through a written statement on Thursday.
Out of the 4.8 million women undergoing labor each year, the number of mothers that used the new contraceptive device stood at 30 percent, he remarked.
This low contraception utilization figure should be a cause for concern since one of the causes of stunting in children is spacing or interval between pregnancies.
"Stunting and spacing are correlated, which is why determining the time gap between pregnancies is very important. Hence, the use of contraceptive device is very necessary," he noted.
By collaborating with DKT Indonesia, as the biggest contraception social marketing organization in Indonesia, the agency continues to increase the use of the contraception device.
This is being conducted through the Communication, Information, and Education (KIE) counseling as well as e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related news: BKKBN modifies family planning services to boost contraceptive use
According to Wardoyo, this collaboration could serve as a platform for midwives to become involved in the stunting reduction acceleration team to provide IUD insertion training for mothers post-labor.
"Midwives are the spearheads on the field. IUD insertion training post-labor is very important to conduct. In Indonesia, almost 80 percent of the 4.8 million women undergoing labor are assisted by midwives," he pointed out.
DKT Indonesia's President Director, Dimosthenis Sakellaridis, noted that the organization had the same target as the BKKBN.
Hence, it will continue to support the Family Planning Program by providing a variety of contraception devices to the public.
The organization is also conducting a dissemination campaign through advertisements, such as via radio and television, so that the Family Planning Program could reach all societal strata to suppress the rate of stunting prevalence.
"This program could not be successful without the support of all parties," Sakellarindis remarked.
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Translator: Hreeloita Shanti, Fadhli Ruhma
Editor: Suharto
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