Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA) - A rise in the number of mothers going off contraceptives is expected to raise the birth rate by 10 percent, or 500 thousand, to 5 million births per year from 4.5 million earlier, an official said.
It is undeniable that the COVID-19 pandemic has made mothers reluctant to visit hospitals, public health service posts (puskesmas), and clinics for fear of being exposed to the novel coronavirus, deputy for population control at the Demography and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Dwi Listyawardani, said here on Thursday.
As a result, the number of mothers stopping the use of family planning contraceptives has increased, she added.
This is expected to raise the birth rate by 10 percent, or 500 thousand, though a significant impact has not yet been visible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in April, 2020, she said.
To anticipate a population explosion during the pandemic, BKKBN and health officers will be fielded to reach women and couples who are reluctant to visit health facilities for fear of being exposed to the coronavirus, she informed.
“The team members fielded (by the agency) will follow health protocols so the public should not be worried. Moreover, they will only give contraceptives in the form of medicines,” she said.
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