Why did some Indonesian women choose not to use contraception after childbirth in 2023?

Many Indonesian women do not use modern contraception as part of family planning (KB) postpartum. This is evident in a report by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) titled *2022 Health Statistics*.

Data shows that of the 73.01% of ever-married women (PPK) aged 10-54 years who used modern contraception postpartum after giving birth to their last child, only 45.02% used it fully or up to 42 days after childbirth.

Several reasons explain why Indonesian women choose not to use modern postpartum contraception. The most common reason is fear of side effects, at 27.10%.

Next are fertility concerns and the use of traditional contraception, accounting for 13.89% and 12.49% respectively.

Meanwhile, 46.52% of PPK cited other reasons, such as disagreement with contraception, lack of knowledge about contraceptive methods, and others.

"The success of postpartum contraception ultimately plays a role in reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR)," the BPS wrote in its report.

The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) also explains that postpartum contraception is an effective method for delaying subsequent pregnancies.

"Postpartum family planning services provided up to 42 days or 6 weeks aim to regulate birth spacing, pregnancy intervals, and prevent unintended pregnancies," the BKKBN wrote on its official website.

According to the BKKBN, every family can plan safe and healthy pregnancies and prevent stunting in children.

The BKKBN recommends several safe contraceptive methods for postpartum mothers, including condoms, progestin-only pills/breastfeeding pills, progestin injections, implants, tubectomy (MOW), and vasectomy (MOP).