BKKBN Calls Oil Mining So One Of The High Triggers For Young Marriage In West Bangka

The Babel Islands Province Satpol PP control illegal tin mining in Geopark Belitung. (Antara-Aprionis)

BABEL - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province (Babel) suppresses stunting cases by inviting residents to avoid marriage at a young age.

"The marriage of young people in Babel, especially West Bangka, is high, thus affecting stunting cases," said Head of the BKKBN of the Babel Islands Province, Fazar Supriadi, in Pangkalpinang, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, September 27.

He said the prevalence of stunting toddlers based on the Regency/City Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) in the Babel Islands Province in 2021 was 18.6 percent. The highest stunting prevalence is in West Bangka 23.5 percent and the lowest is Belitung 13.8 percent.

"We have made various cross-sectoral efforts to suppress stunting, but now the problem is that the number of young marriages is still high, especially in West Bangka," he said.

According to research results, as many as 73 of the 100 stunting families in West Bangka Regency who were researched came from a young married couple.

"Until now, young marriages in West Bangka are still the highest in Babylon, so it is necessary for all parties, especially families and parents, to prevent young marriages to their children," he said.

He added that this stunting case, which is still high, is also influenced by the rise of people's tin ore mining, resulting in many children dropping out of school to mine and have young marriages.

"We have received a report from the Regent of East Belitung, the high number of stunting cases from divorce from this young couple," he said.