'Accidents' do happen: Teen pregnancy<\/p>\n
Rani Lukita, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The topic of teenage pregnancy is being carried into local living
\nrooms by the TV drama series Pernikahan Dini, which some consider
\nyet more proof that local teenagers are succumbing to western
\n\"values\" in experimenting with sex.<\/p>\n
Of course, it's an age-old problem; the hit Saturday night
\nprime-time TV series was inspired by a 1980s' movie of the same
\ntitle, which was an updated adaptation from a popular novel by
\nMira W. about a young girl who fell pregnant.<\/p>\n
Former child singer Agnes Monica plays the role of Dini, a
\nsenior high school student with overprotective parents.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, Dini's father is so protective that she doesn't know
\na single thing about sex,\" Agnes said last week. Consequently,
\nshe accidentally falls pregnant by Gunawan (Syahrul Gunawan) and
\nbegins her married life, although both are far too young to deal
\nwith the consequences of their actions.<\/p>\n
Agnes said Pernikahan Dini portrays some very real issues
\nconnected with teenage pregnancy, including \"the dominant role of
\nthe family to guide and inform their children about sex, and to
\nmake them realize the risks of premarital sex\".<\/p>\n
Parents are often reluctant to discuss sex with their
\nchildren, unless they have a comfortable and open relationship.
\nSome, like Dini's parents, even think that to protect their
\nchildren, they need to prevent them from knowing about sex in the
\nfirst place.<\/p>\n
Schools also have the responsibility of providing informative
\nand reliable sex education, but, even today, few carry out that
\nresponsibility, due mainly to overriding social taboos.<\/p>\n
Hence, clueless but curious teenagers are forced to turn to
\ntheir peers and the media, and are often provided with misleading
\ninformation about sex. This ignorance leads to as many as 15
\nmillion teenagers falling pregnant in the world every year,
\naccording to the International Planned Parenthood Federation
\n(IPPF).<\/p>\n
Anjani, now in her 40s, knows from experience.<\/p>\n
\"Only very basic information (about sex) was provided at
\nschool -- 'If you have sex, you'll have a baby'. I knew that, but
\nI didn't realize the immense consequences of having a baby,\" says
\nAnjani, who became pregnant at 18.<\/p>\n
She did not finish high school but married the man, aged 21,
\nwho got her pregnant. They did not communicate well, probably
\nbecause of their youth, and they later went through an
\nacrimonious divorce and custody dispute<\/p>\n
\"I did everything backwards,\" Anjani said. \"Most people get an
\neducation first before having a baby, but I had a baby and then
\nwent back to college.\"<\/p>\n
Pregnant teenagers usually face \"initially shocked, and then
\nangry and disappointed parents\", according to counselor of
\nteenagers, Rosdiana Tarigan.<\/p>\n
\"After that, parents who are strictly religious will demand
\nthat their child marry. Parents who are not so religious will
\ndemand an abortion.\"<\/p>\n
Taking the marriage option brings its own set of problems.<\/p>\n
\"Teenage marriages are usually filled with problems because
\nthe couple is not ready to get married,\" added Rosdiana. \"Their
\nminds are supposed to be thinking about playing and hanging
\naround with friends. So, because both are emotionally unprepared,
\nthey usually end up fighting a lot.\"<\/p>\n
This point is emphasized in Pernikahan Dini, where the
\ncouple's immature priorities often lead to fights.<\/p>\n
Abortion is not a legal option, but the National Family
\nPlanning Board (BKBN) estimates that two million \"backstreet\"
\nabortions occur in the country each year.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesian teenagers choose to abort, even in unsafe
\nconditions, because they face isolation from the community,
\nexpulsion from school and disgracing their family, among other
\nthings, if they have the baby.<\/p>\n
Although it has tackled some of the moral issues, Pernikahan
\nDini has failed to touch on the physical dangers of having a baby
\nat such a young age.<\/p>\n
According to research done by the Organization of Developing
\nKoranic Studies and the Community (P3M), one of the reasons for
\nthe high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Indonesia is because of
\nchild and teenage pregnancies, many of which are products of
\nculturally encouraged early marriages.<\/p>\n
Pregnant teenagers are at a much higher risk of having serious
\nmedical complications, such as toxemia, pregnancy-induced
\nhypertension and premature delivery. The reproductive organs of
\nteenagers have not fully developed yet and this may result in
\nweak contractions, which could prolong the labor period, until a
\ncaesarean is inevitable.<\/p>\n
The best way to lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy is
\nthrough sex education, says Rosdiana.<\/p>\n
\"The family should begin to educate their children from a
\nsuitable young age, to prepare them. It is also crucial for the
\nfamily to steer their children away from bad influences, such as
\nmisleading media and peers.\"<\/p>\n
In Rosdiana's opinion, schools also need to provide the best
\nsex education possible to make up for the information parents may
\nhave missed out. Finally, the community's awareness and
\ncooperation in eliminating teenage pregnancy are essential.<\/p>\n
Anjani believes that sex education is not the only way to
\nteach about the dangers of teenage pregnancy, but moral and
\nreligious instruction are also essential.<\/p>\n
She loves the children from her marriage, but if she could
\nhave done things differently, she would have done.<\/p>\n
\"I would not have married young, (marry) at 30 at the
\nyoungest, get as high an education as possible, be financially
\nsecure and choose a life partner carefully. And, not have sex
\nbefore marriage!\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/accidents-do-happen-teen-pregnancy-1447893297",
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