"We advocate this because 90 percent of expecting mothers give birth in health facilities. Systematically, only 29 percent of those, who do not intend to get pregnant again, get birth control," Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo remarked here on Tuesday.
During an audience held by BKKBN in Jakarta, Monday (January 2), Wardoyo told JHPIEGO and the Indonesian Midwifery Education Association (AIPKIND) that the current postpartum birth control services are not optimal since only one-third of the 4.8 million new mothers use birth control right after giving birth.
Hence, the course in postpartum birth control is very important since it is directly related to the interval of pregnancy and that shorter intervals of pregnancies are associated with autism and stunting that affect the quality of human resources.
The course in postpartum birth control can also be a solution to reduce unmet needs in birth control. In two years, the percentage of unmet needs of birth control increased, from 10 percent in 2020 to 18 percent in 2022.
Wardoyo said it will be convenient for new mothers to easily get birth control since psychologically, they are not keen to have another child right away.
According to the agency head, postpartum birth control has an interesting and strategic target market.
Meanwhile, the JHPIEGO advocacy coach Abdul Jabbar expected that when the postpartum birth control course can be institutionalized in the midwifery study curriculum, it will increase the effectiveness and scope of training of midwives.
The JHPIEGO has created postpartum birth control service training centers in 12 priority districts. As the service training is very clinical, it must be carried out by midwives whose competence has been accredited.
The training includes an interactive course, evidence-based report, case study, and journal analysis.
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Translator: Hreeloita S, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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