Indonesian Women Favor Highly Effective Methods, Have Few Unwanted Births

Abstract

This study summarizes findings from the 1997 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey among 28810 ever-married women 15-49 years old. Findings are presented on marriage fertility and fertility preferences contraceptive knowledge and use maternal and child health and AIDS. The total fertility rate was 2.8 lifetime births/woman; 3.0 in rural areas and 2.4 in urban areas. Births were higher among women with some primary education (3.2) compared to women with no schooling (2.7) or women with some secondary education (2.6). The ideal was 2.9 children. 46% desired no more children. Only 5% of births in the preceding 5 years before the survey were unwanted. 9% of currently married women had unmet need for family planning; 4% for spacing and 5% for limiting. 97% of married women knew of at least 1 modern method. 55% were current modern method users. The most widely used method was the injectable (21%) followed by the pill (15%). Use varied little between urban and rural areas. Use was highest among women with 2-3 living children. 28% of nonusers planned to use within the year. 38% planned more children and did not intend to use. 68% of births were home deliveries. 65% of infants 0-2 months old were being exclusively breast fed. Infant mortality in the 4 years before the survey was 46/1000 infants. Infant mortality was lower in urban areas. Only 51% knew about AIDS.