The Ministry Of Health Calls Contraceptive Devices For Teenagers To Delay Pregnant Until The Health Of Prospective Mothers Are Ready

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Mohammad Syahril emphasized the provision of contraceptives for married teenagers in order to maintain the health of prospective mothers.

He said this was in response to the issuance of Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of the Health Law, one of which regulates the provision of contraceptives for teenagers.

"So, the provision of contraceptives is only given to teenagers who are married to a safe age to get pregnant, with the aim of delaying pregnancy when prospective mothers are not ready due to economic or health problems," he said in a written statement, Monday, August 6, quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that the public should not mispercept in interpreting the PP because it would be clarified in the draft regulation of the Minister of Health as a derivative regulation of the PP.

He explained that the PP contained efforts by the government to improve promotive and preventive services or prevent the public from becoming sick while explaining education related to reproductive health, including the use of contraception.

"This service includes ensuring reproductive health for adolescents, where the government will promote the provision of communication, information, and education, as well as reproductive health services," he said.

These programs, he continued, contain education about systems, functions, and reproductive processes, maintain reproductive health, risky sexual behavior and consequently, family planning, and are able to refuse sexual intercourse.

"Early marriage will increase the risk of maternal and child mortality. The risk of children being born into stunting is also very high," said Syahril.

In accordance with the provisions in the PP, he said, the main target of contraceptive services is that couples of fertile age and the risk fertile age group, which means that the provision of contraceptives will not be aimed at all teenagers.

"The derivative rules will also clarify the provision of education about family planning for school-age children and adolescents who will be adjusted to the stages of development and age of children," he said.