Bkkbn emphasize the importance of KB during the Covid pandemic

The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) continues to aggressively remind the public of the importance of the Family Planning (KB) program, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should you pay attention to?

Decrease in the number of family planning programs during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the implementation of the national family planning program. The latest BKKBN data states that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of family planning programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of BKKBN, dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp. O.G. (K) said that in March 2020 there were 36 million active family planning participants, while in April 2020 the number of family planning service recipients was only 26 million people. There was a decrease in family planning program participants by up to 10 percent in one month.

"If there are 10 million couples of childbearing age who do not use contraception, then 25 percent have a (higher) potential for pregnancy," said dr. Hasto in the webinar on Urgency of Family Planning Services in the New Normal Period, last Tuesday (9/6).

"We can see that if the injection breaks, for example in the first month, there is a 10 percent chance of getting pregnant, the IUD (spiral contraceptive) is broken, so 15 percent of them can get pregnant, the first month of dropping a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant," he continued.

BKKBN asks the public, especially young newly married couples, to carry out family planning programs and postpone their pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is done in order to avoid pregnancy and childbirth during a pandemic.

"In one year there are 2.6 million new couples who get married and 80 percent of them get pregnant within 12 months. So the estimate is that there will be around 2 million pregnancies, "said dr. Hasto.

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Doctor Hasto emphasized the importance of family planning. Pregnancy during a pandemic has several risks because access to health services is very limited.

"Health services are not necessarily safe because there is a pandemic and they are extremely busy," explained dr. Hasto.

Based on the BKKBN estimates, at least 5 out of 100 pregnancies that occur can have a miscarriage. Therefore, pregnancy in this difficult time should be postponed as much as possible.

The increasing number of unplanned pregnancies can be dangerous

The decline in the number of access to family planning services during the COVID-19 pandemic also increases the risk of unplanned pregnancies (unwanted pregnancy).

UNFPA research (the United Nations organization for population) estimates that there will be around 11 million unwanted pregnancies during a pandemic. This data is the result of research in 114 countries, including Indonesia.

An unplanned pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs at an unwanted or scheduled time. Unplanned pregnancies can occur because of not using contraceptives, or using contraceptives that are inconsistent or incorrect.

An unplanned pregnancy can have negative health, social and psychological impacts, including it can increase the mortality and morbidity of mothers and newborns.

In Indonesia, there are an average of two maternal deaths every hour. The BKKBN prediction is that this figure is believed to double during the COVID-19 pandemic if the number of active family planning people continues to decline. According to UNFPA, family planning programs contribute about 30 percent in preventing maternal and fetal deaths.

The decline in family planning rates during the COVID-19 pandemic must be found out the causes so that it can be immediately corrected.

It is hoped that the family planning program will continue to run effectively in order to fulfill the reproductive rights of every individual, especially for women who directly bear the risks of an unplanned pregnancy.

"For example, wanting family planning but access to difficult services could interfere with the right to postpone her pregnancy, risking causing unwanted pregnancy," explained Dr. dr. Melania Hidayati MPH, representative from UNFPA.

The reason for the decline in family planning rates during the COVID-19 pandemic

There are at least two reasons why people do not continue the family planning program during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, fear of coming to health facilities (faskes). Second, health facilities that provide family planning services are closed or only open by reducing patient capacity.

The family planning service health facilities were also interrupted and decided to close the service for several reasons, including:

1. midwives and teams lack of personal protective equipment (PPE)
2. not allowed family
3. midwives are in independent isolation
4. midwives being treated for COVID-19

Data from the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) states that 218 midwives were positive for COVID-19. They were divided into 744 people under surveillance (ODP), 48 patients under surveillance (PDP), 94 people without symptoms (OTG), and 2 people died.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were asked to continue accessing the family planning program to the closest services. Of course, continue to apply physical distancing and maintain cleanliness while in health facilities.