Country context Like other Southeast Asian countries, is no stranger to myths surrounding Indonesia family planning and childbearing. The most common of these is the false belief that ‘more children mean more wealth.’ Delivering family planning in Indonesia

Right: 37-year old farmer Muhadin asks a question during a Q&A session at a Priyo Utomo meeting.

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In numbers Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with a total population estimated at 253.6 million as of July 2014. More than half of all Indonesians live on the island of making it the most populous 44.5% island on the planet. Contraceptive Prevalence Rate Modern Methods (mCPR) (2013) Despite a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate of over 60%, since the introduction of family planning in the early 70s, experts predict that the population will reach around 8.171m 254 million by 2020 and 288 million by 2050. Creative Number of unintended 13.8%2.37 strategies such as those practised by collectives like pregnancies averted Total fertility rate in Nuansa Mandiri are proving inspiring and effective. due to modern Indonesia births per woman At the Family Planning Summit in 2012, the Indonesian contraceptive use (2013) (2012) Government made a commitment to expand family planning services and information across the country. 60,281 Contraceptive services provided In 2013 alone, an additional 8.4 million women and girls by IPPA in 2014 were using modern contraceptives and family planning which helped avert more than eight million unintended 14,169 Contraceptive services to pregnancies and 16,000 maternal deaths. Currently, young people provided by IPPA The ‘very good men’ of Priyo Utomo the government is implementing a universal health below the age 24 coverage system, launched in 2014, which is making In the highlands of Central He is now confident that deciding The most significant reason for family planning accessible to everyone at a very low to undergo vasectomy will prevent family planning in this village is the cost. Despite this progress, more needs to be done Java lies the rural 6,754,814 another unplanned pregnancy, a very economic consideration. ‘We are Total couples of reproductive age to address public and reproductive health issues at the of where the important choice that has meant peace mostly small farmers in this area. Couples of reproductive age policy level. There needs to be a strong focus on improved of mind for both him and his wife. Having two children is enough because from the regency of Wonosobo public health services including ensuring access to population mainly depends more children mean more expenses. ‘ In the beginning, myths about men 165,988 medical and health facilities, availability of medical Otherwise, we won’t be able to on agriculture. 37-year-old losing their sexual virility and becoming supplies and the quality of trained medical and health support them and give them a better physically weak after undergoing practitioners to provide proper medical attention to Muhadin is a respected future,’ says 33-year-old Tuyono, vasectomy was one of the major Total number of men practicing the country’s population. a father of two. The average number 5,307,068 Islamic cleric in the village concerns in our society,’ says Sudiyono, at least one family planning method of children per family in the village a villager from Bogoran, who has in of Bogoran. When his wife of Bogoran is 2.5. had a vasectomy. ‘That was proven 1,744 Vasectomy cases from was pregnant with their to be untrue. On the contrary, When the members of Bogoran fifth child, Muhadin decided now that we are not worried about village were asked individually what unwanted pregnancies, our sex life influenced their decision to adopt to go for a more permanent is much better,’ he adds. a permanent contraceptive method, SOURCES: BKKBN (POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING AGENCY) CENTRAL JAVA method of contraception. the most common response was TRACK20, MONITORING PROGRESS OF THE GLOBAL FP2020 INITIATIVE (WWW.TRACK20.ORG) Track20 works with governments to a system in which data collected by governments are used the health and welfare of their wives, to produce annual estimates on a range of key family planning indicators. who were mostly on hormone-based SERVICE STATISTICS FROM IPPA www.ippf.org BPS.GO.ID contraceptives. Years ago, the Indonesian Planned The success of the movement is largely Parenthood Association (IPPA) created attributed to personal testimonies. Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) a Priyo Utomo (‘very good men’) According to community outreach programme which has 16 chapters officers in the area, respected members in Wonosobo. Over the years, it gained of society such as religious leaders, a reputation as the most successful government officials or prominent and effective supplier of family figures who take on the role as planning methods and became part of ‘motivators’, influence the decision the government’s nationwide planned of other men in the community. parenthood programme. The Bogoran ‘The information is passed on mostly chapter of Priyo Utomo meets through word-of-mouth,’ says regularly to provide moral support Djunaedi, the head of Wonosobo and to educate and train members BKKPN (Population and Family to become effective motivators to Planning Agency). potential contraceptive users. Due to the active campaigning and advocacy for the government’s family planning programmes, the Mayor of Wonosobo was publicly recognized by the country’s president in 2013. Indonesian Planned ‘…myths about men Parenthood Association losing their sexual (IPPA), which was established virility and becoming in 1957, is currently physically weak leading the NGO family after undergoing planning movement in vasectomy was one Indonesia. The organization of the major concerns believes that the right in our society… to family is central to the That was proven wellbeing of society. to be untrue.’ Sudiyono IPPA is committed to the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Indonesia. The association has been critical in the family planning movement which has helped people to have the number of children they want, leading to an average of 2.5 children per couple. Over the Cover: The Priyo Utomo group course of 57 years, IPPA has reached Top: Community outreach officer, of Bogoran Village in Wonosobo, Sulistyowati, encourages members Central Java, Indonesia gather for out to 28 provinces, covering 231 of the Priyo Utomo group to their regular meeting. It is a support regencies/municipalities in Indonesia. be motivators. group for vasectomy acceptors Above: Local midwife, Endang initially organized by IPPA, which Priyo Utomo is a voluntary, rights- Dwi Ningsih, talks about vasectomy. eventually became part of the based group consisting of men who government’s successful family KEMAL JUFRI | PANOS planning programme. made a choice to accept a permanent Above: 54-year-old farmer, Prasetyo contraceptive method. This project carries grass to feed his goats at was first initiated by IPPA’s Central Java Bogoran Village in Wonosobo. He Chapter and has been adopted by the already has 3 children with his wife and had a vasectomy in 1999 as both government’s National Family Planning he and his wife planned to have only Coordination Board. Priyo Utomo three children for economic reasons. acts as a peer group to enhance Left: 45-year-old farmer, Sudiyono male participation in family planning. at Bogoran Village in Wonosobo. This group has various activities such He decided to undergo vasectomy for economic reasons, and for as encouraging local leaders to have the health and well-being of his a vasectomy, giving consultations wife after she had two children and testimonies, and also supporting via caesarean birth. the groups’ businesses. KEMAL JUFRI | PANOS