Unintended Pregnancies on the Rise Amid PSBB Quarantine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) announced that pregnancy cases had increased after the government imposed the COVID-19 semi-quarantine known as the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). As of May 20, the BKKBN data stated there had been 400,000 unintended pregnancies. 

Gynecologist dr. Dinda Derdameisya said the rising statistic did not come as a surprise as her clinic received many pregnancy checkups, mainly for their second and third pregnancy.

“According to their stories, it is generally due to the frequent time with partners at home that also increased sexual activities. Usually working couples would return home fatigued thus lowering the frequency, but because they now work from home together the activity increased,” said Dinda Derdameisya on Friday, May 29. 

There are notions assuming that due to the PSBB protocol health clinics are only limited to serve emergency cases, which made it difficult for couples to obtain contraception. But is this true?

According to Dr. Dinda, who practices at the Brawijaya Women and Children Hospital, obtaining barrier-type condoms is easy as this type of contraception is available in pharmacies and minimarkets that remain open during the PSBB quarantine. 

“It goes back to people’s preferences, because usually the calendar system and such are less effective. Even though there’s a risk of failure by using condoms, not due to cases of leaks but rather because some don’t want to use one,” said the doctor. 

She said another alternative was the hormonal method, which was rather complicated for first-time users as it would require couples to conduct consultations. dr. Dinda also reminded couples practicing the "family planning" (KB) program to always use double protections during a transition period between contraception changes. 

EKO WAHYU PRAMITA