"If during dating, the couples engaged in sexual intercourse, then it could lead to pregnancy before marriage. This could trigger an increase in criminal abortions," Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo stated in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Wednesday.
Responding to the abortion case in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, some time ago, Wardoyo regretted that several couples in Indonesia had not been able to understand the importance of taking care of their reproductive health and maintaining it.
This triggers a toxic relationship that in fact, encourages partners to take unforeseeable steps, he remarked.
According to Wardoyo, unwanted pregnancies can occur both in dating and married couples. In dating couples, unwanted pregnancies occur after free sex, while in married couples, it can occur if the pair did not use contraception or family planning after giving birth.
Hence, unwanted pregnancies can lead to illegal acts, such as abortion at illegal places, with no safety guarantee for the fetus and mother, he pointed out.
Wardoyo also acknowledged that abortion is one of the several imperceptible problems in the development of human resources. Hence, he reminded that everyone should be careful.
"This is one of the problems in family development. On average, our children's first sexual contact is currently at the age of 15-16 years. While 20 years ago, when we did a sex survey, the ages were 18-19 years. This means that many people already commit adultery. This is a paradox in our society," he remarked.
Hence, his side continues to encourage every education unit to start providing reproductive education that includes care of reproductive organs and the dangers of free sex and early marriage that threaten the health of future generations.
“Reproductive education must be allowed at schools. We cannot just translate sex education into sexual intercourse education. Do not think negatively. This education is imparted to emphasize efforts to take care of their reproductive health," he emphasized.
Earlier, on June 28, the Central Jakarta police handled a case of illegal abortion practices in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, after receiving reports from local residents, who grew suspicious following audible sounds of a vacuum cleaner and often spotting several women coming to a particular place.
The investigation also involved officers dismantling a septic tank where aborted fetuses were suspected to have been dumped. After the evidence was obtained, the police immediately arrested two police officers, with the initials SN, 51, and NA, 33, as the executors in the fetal abortion. Based on police information, at least 50 women chose to have abortions done there.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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