A health education initiative led by Catur Widayanti and a research team from the Postgraduate Program in Public Health at Ngudi Waluyo University has significantly improved knowledge and attitudes toward Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) among women of childbearing age. The program was conducted on December 17, 2025, in the working area of UPTD Petung Health Center, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The findings highlight the important role of community education in strengthening family planning awareness and reproductive health practices.
Family planning programs are a key pillar in efforts to reduce maternal mortality and improve reproductive health. Although the Indonesian government promotes long-term contraceptive methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, many couples still prefer short-term methods such as injections and pills. National data show that more than 80% of active family planning participants rely on short-term contraception, while the use of long-term methods remains relatively low.
A similar pattern was observed in the Petung Health Center service area. In 2024, 170 women of childbearing age were recorded, with 99 active family planning participants. However, only 13 women used implant contraception, one of the long-term methods. Many women reported reluctance to use long-term contraception due to limited information, fear of the procedure, and lack of support from their husbands.
Community Education Initiative
To address this gap, the research team from Ngudi Waluyo University organized a community-based health counseling program involving 43 women of childbearing age. The activity included educational presentations, interactive discussions, and question-and-answer sessions about the benefits, safety, and effectiveness of long-term contraceptive methods.
Participants’ knowledge was measured through pre-test and post-test evaluations, which showed a substantial improvement in understanding:
- Before the education session, 17.06% of participants lacked knowledge about long-term contraception
- After the session, the figure dropped sharply to 0.59%
- The proportion of participants who understood MKJP increased to 99.41%
These results demonstrate that health education and counseling can effectively enhance public knowledge about long-acting contraceptive methods. Participants were actively engaged during the session, asking questions about the safety, benefits, and procedures involved in long-term contraception.
Social Support and Access to Services
According to the research team, women’s decisions about contraceptive use are influenced not only by knowledge but also by access to health services, service quality, costs, and support from partners.
Catur Widayanti of Ngudi Waluyo University emphasized that educational interventions can help build positive attitudes toward long-term contraceptive methods. With better understanding, women are more likely to make informed decisions regarding reproductive health and family planning.
Increasing the use of long-term contraception is also considered crucial for supporting sustainable family planning programs and reducing the risk of unintended pregnancies.
Implications for Public Health Programs
The findings provide several important implications for community health initiatives:
- Community health education effectively improves reproductive health literacy.
- Better knowledge encourages positive attitudes toward long-term contraception.
- Continuous education programs are needed at health centers and local government levels.
The researchers recommend strengthening collaboration between local governments, health centers, and community organizations to expand reproductive health education programs, particularly those promoting long-term contraceptive methods.
Author Profile
- Catur Widayanti- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Anita- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Amsal Said- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Hermiati- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Sannauly Novita Sinaga- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- M. Ikhwanus Shofa- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Alexandria Da Silva- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Sigit Ambar Widyawati- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
- Ummu Muntamah- Universitas Ngudi Waluyo.
Research Source
Widayanti, C., Anita, Said, A., Hermiati, Sinaga, S. N., Shofa, M. I., Da Silva, A., Widyawati, S. A., & Muntamah, U. (2026). “Improving Knowledge and Attitudes of Women of Childbearing Age (WUS) in Using MKJP at the UPTD Petung Penajam Paser Utara Health Center.”
Journal of Community Service Bestari (JPMB), Vol l. 5 No. 2, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmb.v5i2.605
URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmb
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