Tribes reject family planning

PALU, Central Sulawesi: About half of the indigenous people in Central Sulawesi are rejecting the government's call to join the family planning program because it goes against their mystic beliefs, Antara reported.

During a recent trip to Saloya, a village where one isolated tribe lives, Antara said many housewives considered contraceptives taboo.

Mrs. Sutiri, a 35-year-old woman who has given birth seven times, said each birth is considered a sacred gift from her ancestors and therefore cannot be rejected.

She and many other women in the village have rejected all offers of help, including medical treatment, from family planning extension workers.

Yunus Patriawan, the spokesman of the Central Sulawesi National Family Planning Office, said isolation, poor access to villages and a language barrier are some of the difficulties encountered by his employees.

Of the approximately 10,000 families of indigenous, largely nomadic people in Central Sulawesi, the government has only managed to settle 3,000 of them. (emb)