Lombok makes headway in family planning

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Mataram

To most Lombok women, the term Keluarga Berencana (Family Planning), better known as KB, only means lining up at the Community Health Center (Puskesmas) to obtain contraceptives to prevent them from having more than two children.

As revealed by Sumirah, 36, from Cakranegara village near Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province, officials from the local administration visited her village urging women to use the intrauterine device (IUD) and other contraception methods.

"They said if we didn't join the KB program, our lives would be miserable," she said.

"Using the IUD has been very painful," claimed Hayati, Sumirah's neighbor.

But the pain was nothing compared to the beating and threats they receive from their husbands. Most men and religious leaders accuse the women of avoiding their fate and violating their religion by using the IUD or other contraceptives. For the women it means they can avoid getting pregnant and plan the number of children they want.

Head of the province's branch of the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Lalu Burhan, said the implementation of the national family planning program on Lombok island and other parts of the province still faced constraints.

"As each province has its own tradition and culture, the government must adjust the family planning program to the local culture," he said.

In the early 1970s, Indonesia launched a massive family planning program aiming to promote the concept of a small and prosperous family by delaying marriage, spacing births and using modern contraceptives. However, the significant success in reducing the national fertility rate was also colored by the misuse of the program to garner support for the then ruling government.

Gender specialist of the province's social affairs agency, Ratningdyah, said: "Lombok women were selected as the target of the program due to their naivete and poor education."

Women are trapped between the government program and the traditions of the local ethnic Sasak community. Community and culture play a great role in influencing people's attitude toward family planning, the desired sex of children and preferences on family size.

"The Sasak community, who are mostly Muslims, require its women to bear and raise children as a way to gain respect and dignity in the society," said Ratningdyah.

The concept of a small family, with only two children, was not valued in the society. Tradition says the more children they have, the more prosperous they would be. Unfortunately, all the burden a large family brings is borne by the women.

"A woman is a wife, a mother and also a breadwinner. Many women go to the Puskesmas to get contraceptives without their husbands' knowledge in fear of the violence they would face," she said.

To ensure the success of the program here, the government must consider a number of issues including the loose family values among the Sasak people, high divorce rates, the poor general health of women and children and the strong influence of Tuan Guru (religious leaders) in the community.

"Tuan Guru has a very crucial role in promoting the ideas of family planning program. If they ask the people to join it, they'll follow," said Zubaedah, chairperson of the Family Welfare Foundation.

She said a significant reconstruction of culture and religious values in Sasak society was desperately required to enable the public to accept the concept of a small and quality family as well as to recognize the individual and reproductive rights of women.

"It's a big and risky job. We must begin at the grass roots and the educated class to the top religious leaders."

At the grassroots level, parents are encouraged to treat their children equally. Boys should also be required to do household chores while girls should have access to education and health facilities.

Zubaedah said a small number of educated women and moderate religious leaders have been trying to redefine the role of women in the family, the society and the state.

"The Koran explicitly places women in a high position. It also says that monogamy is better than polygamy."

Lalu admitted his job was very hard, especially in the era of regional autonomy where each provincial administration takes on almost all initiatives and responsibilities.

"It's very hard to change the image of KB among locals but we have been implementing several strategies."

The program is now included in the public health and social welfare systems.

"If we want to implement the programs we have to consider with the well-being of babies, children, teenagers, mothers, fathers and even grandparents," Lalu said.

The BKKBN is now working hand in hand with a large number of religious leaders, Islamic boarding schools, universities and non-governmental organizations in promoting the new paradigm of family planning and the quality family concept among all members of the society.

"It's important to inform women, husbands and children of the benefits of joining the program and the impact on families," he said.

The administration has received assistance from the European Economic Community and other international organizations to help empower poor families, who represent 50 percent of the total population.

There's a long way to go in West Nusa Tenggara to improve the people's welfare but, at least, there is a new enthusiasm among the local administration, individuals and community leaders.

The writer visited Lombok island, West Nusa Tenggara, on the invitation of the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Communication Programs and the Indonesian Family Planning Board (BKKBN), which are jointly implementing the Family Planning Program.