FOUR MILLION FERTILE COUPLES FAIL TO ENJOY FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES

Jakarta, Oct 23 (ANTARA)- Some four million fertile couples are still unable to obtain family planning services, the head of the Indonesian national family planning coordinating agency said.

The result of a demographic and health survey shows in 2007 shows that about four million, or 9.1 percent of the number of fertile couples in Indonesia, have yet to enjoy family planning services, head of the National Family Planning Coordinating Agency Sugiri Syarief said here on Thursday.
According to statistics, the number of fertile couples in 2003 who did not enjoy family planning services reach only 8.6 percent of their total number, he said.
The result of a similar survey in 2007 shows that in Maluku the percentage was the highest, standing at 22.4 percent, and the lowest prevailed in Bangka Belitung province with 3.2 percent.
Data also revealed that the number of fertile couples in rural areas reached 9.2 percent, and in cities 8.8 percent, he added.
These figures are much higher than the govenment-projected 6 percent, he said, adding which might raise the maternal mortality rate.