Ministry Of Health: Contraception To Postpone Pregnancy Of Teenagers Who Are Married Early

JAKARTA - The Head of the Reproduction Health Working Team of the Productive and Elderly Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health, Wira Hartiti, stated that the provision of contraceptives tools aims to postpone pregnancy for teenagers who are already married early.

This was conveyed by Wira, responding to Article 103 Paragraph 4 letter e in Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 which contains editors of provision of contraceptives' as part of the health efforts of the school and youth age reproductive system.

"One of the things we can try is how to educate them not to get pregnant before the age of 20 years. So that later we can postpone pregnancy until the age is sufficient," said Wira in a webinar in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, October 1.

Wira reminded many teenage women who ask for dispensation at school because they are married and have children. In fact, he said, the ideal age range for women to get pregnant is over the age of 20 to 35 years.

"We are indeed aiming for this contraceptive tool only for teenagers who are married, what must be done through health facilities (faskes) by health workers," he said.

As for teenagers who are not married, Wira said that this is also a collective homework to conduct reproductive health education, including avoiding sexual behavior that is at risk along with the consequences.

"The point is, (for teenagers) who are not married are education so that changes in attitude and behavior become healthy behavior," said Wira.

He emphasized that further explanation of PP Number 28 of 2024 will also be revealed in the Draft Regulation of the Minister of Health (RPMK) regarding reproductive health.

According to Wira, the Ministry of Health has made efforts to improve the reproductive health of school and adolescent age, ranging from promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative to palliative. From a promotive and preventive perspective, education is carried out starting from an understanding of the system, function, and reproductive processes; maintaining reproductive health; sexual behavior is risky and as a result; family plans; protect yourself and is able to resist sexual relations; as well as selection of entertainment media according to the age of children.

"The provision of educational materials will be provided in accordance with the age and developmental level of education. So indeed this material will not be the same at all stages of life, it will definitely be given with different materials and methods in accordance with its development considering that this reproductive health material is very sensitive material," he said.

The Ministry of Health is also working with the Ministry of Education and Culture to improve the competence of teachers and school principals regarding youth reproductive health education.

The government also has a reproductive health education module for teachers which is expected to be a teaching material for students. This medical teaching device can be downloaded through the Merdeka Teaching Platform and the Ayo Sehat Kemekes website.

"We hope that this reproductive health education will be strengthened, including how to integrate into the curriculum or become ingredients in extracurricular activities so that it can enrich students' level of knowledge to adopt a healthy lifestyle," said Wira.