'Accidents' do happen: Teen pregnancy

'Accidents' do happen: Teen pregnancy

Rani Lukita, Contributor, Jakarta

The topic of teenage pregnancy is being carried into local living
rooms by the TV drama series Pernikahan Dini, which some consider
yet more proof that local teenagers are succumbing to western
"values" in experimenting with sex.

Of course, it's an age-old problem; the hit Saturday night
prime-time TV series was inspired by a 1980s' movie of the same
title, which was an updated adaptation from a popular novel by
Mira W. about a young girl who fell pregnant.

Former child singer Agnes Monica plays the role of Dini, a
senior high school student with overprotective parents.

"In fact, Dini's father is so protective that she doesn't know
a single thing about sex," Agnes said last week. Consequently,
she accidentally falls pregnant by Gunawan (Syahrul Gunawan) and
begins her married life, although both are far too young to deal
with the consequences of their actions.

Agnes said Pernikahan Dini portrays some very real issues
connected with teenage pregnancy, including "the dominant role of
the family to guide and inform their children about sex, and to
make them realize the risks of premarital sex".

Parents are often reluctant to discuss sex with their
children, unless they have a comfortable and open relationship.
Some, like Dini's parents, even think that to protect their
children, they need to prevent them from knowing about sex in the
first place.

Schools also have the responsibility of providing informative
and reliable sex education, but, even today, few carry out that
responsibility, due mainly to overriding social taboos.

Hence, clueless but curious teenagers are forced to turn to
their peers and the media, and are often provided with misleading
information about sex. This ignorance leads to as many as 15
million teenagers falling pregnant in the world every year,
according to the International Planned Parenthood Federation
(IPPF).

Anjani, now in her 40s, knows from experience.

"Only very basic information (about sex) was provided at
school -- 'If you have sex, you'll have a baby'. I knew that, but
I didn't realize the immense consequences of having a baby," says
Anjani, who became pregnant at 18.

She did not finish high school but married the man, aged 21,
who got her pregnant. They did not communicate well, probably
because of their youth, and they later went through an
acrimonious divorce and custody dispute

"I did everything backwards," Anjani said. "Most people get an
education first before having a baby, but I had a baby and then
went back to college."

Pregnant teenagers usually face "initially shocked, and then
angry and disappointed parents", according to counselor of
teenagers, Rosdiana Tarigan.

"After that, parents who are strictly religious will demand
that their child marry. Parents who are not so religious will
demand an abortion."

Taking the marriage option brings its own set of problems.

"Teenage marriages are usually filled with problems because
the couple is not ready to get married," added Rosdiana. "Their
minds are supposed to be thinking about playing and hanging
around with friends. So, because both are emotionally unprepared,
they usually end up fighting a lot."

This point is emphasized in Pernikahan Dini, where the
couple's immature priorities often lead to fights.

Abortion is not a legal option, but the National Family
Planning Board (BKBN) estimates that two million "backstreet"
abortions occur in the country each year.

Many Indonesian teenagers choose to abort, even in unsafe
conditions, because they face isolation from the community,
expulsion from school and disgracing their family, among other
things, if they have the baby.

Although it has tackled some of the moral issues, Pernikahan
Dini has failed to touch on the physical dangers of having a baby
at such a young age.

According to research done by the Organization of Developing
Koranic Studies and the Community (P3M), one of the reasons for
the high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Indonesia is because of
child and teenage pregnancies, many of which are products of
culturally encouraged early marriages.

Pregnant teenagers are at a much higher risk of having serious
medical complications, such as toxemia, pregnancy-induced
hypertension and premature delivery. The reproductive organs of
teenagers have not fully developed yet and this may result in
weak contractions, which could prolong the labor period, until a
caesarean is inevitable.

The best way to lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy is
through sex education, says Rosdiana.

"The family should begin to educate their children from a
suitable young age, to prepare them. It is also crucial for the
family to steer their children away from bad influences, such as
misleading media and peers."

In Rosdiana's opinion, schools also need to provide the best
sex education possible to make up for the information parents may
have missed out. Finally, the community's awareness and
cooperation in eliminating teenage pregnancy are essential.

Anjani believes that sex education is not the only way to
teach about the dangers of teenage pregnancy, but moral and
religious instruction are also essential.

She loves the children from her marriage, but if she could
have done things differently, she would have done.

"I would not have married young, (marry) at 30 at the
youngest, get as high an education as possible, be financially
secure and choose a life partner carefully. And, not have sex
before marriage!"