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 25
November 2007,
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Amidst discriminatory social and cultural
values, biased interpretations of religious teachings and
unequal gender relations, realization of women’s sexual
and reproductive health rights calls for involvement of all
elements of the community, especially men.
“Reproductive right is closely linked to the power relation
between men and women. In Indonesia, the fulfillment of women’s
reproductive health rights remains low and this can be seen
by the high maternal mortality ratio, increasing HIV/AIDS
cases and sexual violence,” said Minister for Women’s
Empowerment Ms. Meuthia Hatta-Swasono.
UNFPA Assistant Representative Ms. Martha Santoso Ismail stressed
the fact that when it comes to maternal health, men’s
decisions and involvement can tip the scale between life and
death from the highly preventable deaths related to pregnancy
and childbirth. “We know this fact but many people out
there, do not,” Ms. Ismail said.
Both the Minister and Ms. Ismail made the remarks during a
Regional Workshop titled “Male Participation in Reproductive
Health” jointly organized by The Japanese Organization
for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP),
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Indonesian
Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI).
The regional workshop is part of JOICFP-UNFPA’s 4-year
behavior change communication project to increase male involvement
in reproductive health and is attended by participants from
10 countries in the region including Mongolia, Indonesia and
Myanmar, where the intervention is conducted.
JOICFP Director Dr. Nobuhiro Kadoi explained that the project
aims to empower men to take part in safeguarding the wellbeing
of women during pregnancy and childbirth by enabling men to
detect early pregnancy-related danger signs, take decision
to seek assistance from nearby health worker, to enable pregnant
women get timely referral in cases of complications, to make
sure that pregnant women enjoy adequate nutritional intake
and men to share household chores.
In Indonesia, the project is jointly conducted with PKBI in
4 villages in West Java province’s districts of Tasikmalaya
and Indramayu. PKBI Executive Director Inne Silviane explained
that programme intervention helps mobilize religious and community
leaders, local radio stations, male educators and health workers
to spread health information and to promote men to take actions.
With well informed supports from community members, especially
men in maternal health, the country would be more successful
in bringing down the maternal mortality ratio at 307/100,000
live births according to 2002-2003 Indonesian Demography and
Health Survey. “And a change in men’s behavior
can contribute to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS too,”
the Minister added.
PKBI Chairman Rizal Malik hinted that the unsafe abortion
is also a contributing factor to the high MMR. The country’s
unmet need for contraceptive is high at 9 percent and it is
estimated that 11 percent of the maternal death is due to
unsafe abortion with 71 percent of the women who seek abortion
are married.
Apart from the biased cultural values and gender inequalities,
low awareness and lack of information hamper involvements
of community members, including community and religious leaders,
most of whom are men. “In rural and remote areas where
social bond is still strong, we learn that men want to participate
but they don’t know how,” Ms. Ismail pointed out.
The intervention has allowed reproductive health issues to
be raised in families and in community gatherings. Mumu Mudin
a religious leader and a male motivator from Salawu village
said such discussions are important to equip community members
with the knowledge for taking action.
As public awareness in his village improves, the father of
3 adult children has been asked to talk about safe pregnancy
and childbirth during Friday prayers in neighboring villages.
”I hope we can all talk about reproductive health issues
openly, not as a sensitive topic as it concerns people’s
rights and lives,” he said.
For further information please contact:
Maria Endah Hulupi
UNFPA Communications Officer: 0812 1115 116
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