"I believe that it is important to continue the dissemination of contraception use so that our people are aware of the importance of pregnancy gap. In controlling the pregnancy gap, contraception must be used," he explained.
Currently, some 57 percent of fertile aged couples in Indonesia have used contraception from the targeted 62 percent. This is a relatively good figure, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he remarked.
Public awareness campaigns on planned pregnancy are very important to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate, to improve infants' life quality, and to avoid stunting, he added.
If a couple has a pregnancy gap that is too short, the chances of stunting will be high. If children suffer from stunting, they will be short, unintelligent, and sickly, he explained.
The agency collaborates with various parties such as universities, the military, and private sector to continue to campaign on contraception and pregnancy planning.
During the 2022 World Contraception Day, BKKBN also initiated an integrated family planning service collaboration to improve family planning utilization and expedite stunting reduction along with several work partners.
Moreover, the use of contraception is to stem population explosion, Wardoyo informed.
For instance, if 100 fertile couples aged 20-35 do not use contraception, then 80 percent of them are ensured to become pregnant. As a result, it would significantly affect population growth, he said.
Currently, high birth rates are found in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and East Nusa Tenggara. Meanwhile, the birth rates in East Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Bali, and Jakarta are in decline.
"If a region has a high fertility rate, we need to work hard to reduce it," he said.
"However, if the fertility rate is in a reverse condition, we need to handle it so that one woman can give birth to one children so there would not be zero growth and minus growth," he continued.
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Translator: Maria C G P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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