Maternal Health from Ours

Maternal Health from Ours

by Dewi Erita

Health status in country can be seen from mortality status, morbidity status, big ten disease, and nutrition status. One of our concerns is about maternal mortality. Based on Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) reports in 2007 and 2012, there is increasing number of maternal mortality ratio, from 228 to 359 death per live births. Maternal mortality ratio is a number of maternal mortality for one year per 100.000 live births. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015 is 102 deaths per live births. That goal hasn’t been achieved. So that, there is a problem in health status in Indonesia.

There are many causes of maternal mortality. McCarthy and Maine said that there are three determinants of maternal mortality. One of them is contextual determinant. That is knowledge and empowerment of women.

There must be simple thing that we can do for tackling the problem. As a student, we are supposed to study comprehensively. We must be disciplined ourself and work hard. We should try and do reading and writing activity little by little, though it is hard.

Health from our house or room come from our habit to kill flick mosquito. Mosquito is a vector of disease. One of big ten diseases is caused by Plasmodium sp parasite and Aedes aegypti virus. Eradicating flick mosquito is able to reduce disease resources.

We must plan to breastfeed our baby. Breast milk is best food for baby until 6 months. It will keep baby healthy and give good diet for them. Nursing mothers has to eat more food than pregnant women. It will keep breast milk available till 6 months.

Solving maternal mortality problem should be our concern. As a woman, we are supposed to empower ourself. Health come from ourself, especially women in the case of maternal and child health. Let’s do it.   

Depok, December 16^th 2016

Review: Prostitution in Indonesia

Review

Prostitution in Indonesia

by Dewi Erita

Prostitution is one of public health issue from reproductive health aspect. This topic is for understanding us about the spreading of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

This book consists of four chapter. That is the evolution of the commercial sex sector in Indonesia, government policy and the sex sector, the organizational structure of the sex industry, and economics of the sex sector. 

First chapter told us about history of prostitution. It was identified from Javanese Kingdom. Women in this decade was valued commodities for power and wealth by king and nobles. That women was named selir. Commercialized sex industry wasn’t seem yet.

Commercialization sex during colonial period was more organized. This condition happened due to many single man sent to Indonesia. They needed sexual services. Women who was sex workers in this time is named as public women (women lacking moral). Enhancement sexual relationship between foreigner and public women induced STDs. Government tackled this problem with creating a law. Public women had to do medical examination weekly. If there was found contagious disease, they had to be isolated. This health program was good for preventing disease but unfortunately declined since the responsibility for supervising shifted from central to the regional government.

Prostitution expanded when there was road and railway construction. Many male labourer needed sexual services. Many women became sex workers around railway. In plantation area, resident labourers drew young female village into prostitution.

In second occupation between 1941 and 1945, the soldier needed sexual services too. Sukarno discussed with religious leaders how to deal with this. As a result under these circumstances, the prostitutes was placed in camp. The soldier could visit them once a week.

In late 1940s, new government of Indonesia had changed social structure and development of sex industry. Many poorer young women from village migrated to urban cities. Many of that women experienced marriage, divorced in early age, had emotional circumstances, had financial difficulties and etc. In urban cities, their social values, community solidarity, and religious beliefs changed to individualistic values.

Second chapter told about government policy. Prostitution had been seen as health and public-order rather than moral considerations. The law that prohibit to facilitate sexual services were articles 296, 297, and 506 in the Criminal Code (KUHP). Regional regulations prohibited sex workers in street. If they were caught in a raid, those women were sent to Rehabilitation Centre for Immoral Women (Panti Rehabilitasi Wanita Tuna Susila). There were 22 rehabilitation centres nationwide which runs by central government Department of Social Affairs. Official prostitution complexes (lokalisasi WTS) were established for social discipline and control. There was medical examination and educational activities which runs by central government.

Official lokalisasi spreaded in big city. There was the kampung of Silir in Surakarta (1967), Kramat Tunggak in Jakarta (1970s), the Dolly-Jarak area in Surabaya, the Sunan Kuning complex in Semarang (1966), the Kalisari complex in Malang (1976) and another smaller towns had lokalisasi. There was also Batam as a growth area of prostitute in recent years.

Chapter three was about organizational structure of sex industry. There was organized and unorganized form. Organized form consisted of sex workers, manager, and intermediary person. Unorganized form was just sex workers herself and sometimes intermediary person helped. Prostitutes who work in lokalisasi was more secure than personal form. Sex workers who work by herself was vulnerable from harassment of customers.

There wasn’t accurate statistics about the number of prostitutes because of their varied category. Categories of workers were in brothel complexes (lokalisasi), in massage parlours (panti pijat), in brothel houses, in night clubs, in salons, in discotheques, call-girl establishments, snack vendors, call-girls (wanita panggilan), street walkers (perek/ wanita jalanan), and precocious teenagers (Anak Baru Gede).

Chapter four was about economic of sex industry. Being prostitute was occupation with high earnings compared to work in same place with low level of education. The segment  of prostitutes were lowest-class, low-class, middle-class, high class, and highest-class. Actual earning of prostitute depended on proportion of she got from customer. Unorganized workers could get all of the charge paid, but prostitute in organized place got less than that. Economic significance of sex industry was difficult to estimate because of uncertainty of total turnover. Turnover in sex sector depended on total number of prostitutes, average net earnings, and other people’s income who related with this industry. 

Prostitution is a complex problem that we face throughout time, country, and sector. That is past, present, and future problem. This is not only occured Indonesia, but also around the world in many country.

STDs and HIV/AIDS is common problem health in prostitution. HIV/AIDS is spreading from infected customers to prostitutes, prostitutes to another customers, customers to his innocent wife, and wife to infant. Sex workers is not only women, but also male and transvestites (even thought not as much as women).

STDs is big gate in which HIV/AIDS spread through sexual intercourse. Preventing this disease is difficult. This requires integrate many sector. Government policy, religious movements, economic improvement, social justice and public health are related field. Is that great work which we must handled, isn’t it?

Pustaka

Hull, Terence H., Endang Sulistyaningsih, Gavin W. Jones. 1999. Prostitution in Indonesia. Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan

Depok, June 30, 2016_Ramadan 25, 1437 H

Gift from Meiji University

Student’s Voice Draft

Photo taken by Meiji University staff

The reason/purpose of studying in Japan

Japan is the dream country for many adolescent and young adult in Indonesia. For student, there are many college which can execute research with high technology. It also provide scholarship too. I knew Japan since junior high school from Detective Conan manga. I read all of Conan manga and watched its movie too. Many thing I learned such as elementary and senior high school life, different accent between Tokyo and Osaka, different character of people, name of city/area/prefecture, history of place, martial art, and etc. It was nice.

Prof. Rhenald Kasali, one of lecturer in University of Indonesia, said in his book that student must at least going once to abroad, especially country with different writing (not alphabet). Being in other country, we can increasing our knowledge, learn different culture, and think in many ways to survive.

In Public Health, I found Japan has low maternal mortality ratio, low sexual violence and child abuse, good health insurance, low pollution, good transportation system, good education (affective, cognitive, and psychomotor) and so on. My lecturer said if Japan do regular medical check up to maintain health and nutrition of people from elementary school. For the result, Japanese people is tall, smart, and high quality of live. It is amazing. So, what reason don’t come to Japan?

The reason/purpose of your participation in Meiji University Japanese Language Program in Winter

            I told my friend if I want going to Japan to learn their culture. I planned to work part time there about two weeks. So, I could get money for living cost and learn way of live of Japanese people in one time. A few days later, my friend told information about Japanese Language Program in Winter 2016 in Meiji University. Meiji gave us choices for homestay and provided chance to get scholarship from JASSO. What a coincidence, I thought.

About what you felt/got/learnt by participating in this program

In Japan, we went to homestay from airport by ourself. It was a challenge but I liked it. I learned to go by train, found the peron in wide station and memorizing all the stations that I through. It was puzzling to see kanji everywhere, though there is alphabet in English. I enjoyed it.

Learning Japanese Language in Meiji University was very fun. The lecturers taught the lesson step by step, systematic and full of practice. They answered our question directly, so we could catch the lesson if we didn’t understand at first. I learned Furoshiki Wrapping. I surprised, simple sheet can wrapped thing from smile size till very big size. It was traditional but interesting. For my practice, I wrapped my souvenir and brought it from Japan to Indonesia with Furoshiki sheet (gift from Meiji). I am happy with that.

Another activity field was Kimono Dressing. I wore Furisode. It was beautiful design of kimono. When we walked to near temple, almost all Japanese people along way was looking at us. They were smiling, so my nervous was fall off. Wearing tight kimono, walking with slippers in small steps, looking around the temple with student supporter and taking some pictures with another student in different country was a wonderful experience.

About your future plan/dream

I plan to go to Japan again and live there for a few years. Before that, I  will continue learning Japanese Language in Indonesia. If I have graduate and get bachelor degree, I intent to join Monbukagakusho for scholarship. Learning how Japan create public health system, meeting with my homestay family in Kamakura, improving my self discipline in there is my future plan. At the end, I can create something that will maintain and improve health of Indonesian people.

Depok, 26^th March 2016

Dewi Erita

Student of Reproductive Health

Public Health Faculty

University of Indonesia

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Suara Mahasiswa

Alasan/tujuan belajar di Jepang

Jepang adalah negara impian sebagian remaja dan orang dewasa di Indonesia. Bagi mahasiswa, ada banyak perguruan tinggi yang memfasilitasi penelitian berteknologi tinggi. Beasiswa juga tersedia. Saya mengenal Jepang sejak sekolah menengah pertama (SMP) melalui komik Detektif Conan. Saya sudah membaca hampir seluruh volume komik dan menonton filmnya. Banyak hal yang saya pelajari seperti kehidupan anak-anak sekolah dasar (SD) dan pelajar sekolah menengah atas (SMA), perbedaan aksen antara orang Tokyo dan Osaka, perbedaan sifat dan karakter, nama-nama kota, jenis bela diri dan lain-lain. Semua itu menarik.

Prof. Rhenald Kasali, salah satu dosen di Universitas Indonesia, mengatakan dalam bukunya bahwa mahasiswa setidak-tidaknya pernah pergi ke luar negeri, terutama negara yang tulisannya berbeda dengan tulisan Indonesia (bukan alfabet). Berada di negara lain akan menambah pengetahuan dan wawasan kita, belajar budaya negara lain dan mampu berpikir beragam cara untuk bertahan hidup.

Dari segi kesehatan masyarakat, Jepang memiliki angka kematian ibu (AKI) yang rendah, angka kekerasan seksual dan kekerasan anak yang rendah, asuransi kesehatan yang baik, sistem transportasi yang ramah lingkungan, pendidikan dengan kurikulum yang jelas dari segi afektif, kognitif, psikomotor dan lain-lain. Dosen di Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat  berkata bahwa anak SD di Jepang selalu melakukan pemeriksaan kesehatan berkala dan sangat menjaga asupan makanan. Hasilnya, masyarakat Jepang memiliki tinggi badan di atas rata-rata, pintar dan kualitas hidup yang baik. Ini adalah sesuatu yang menakjubkan. Jadi, masih adakah alasan untuk tidak pergi ke Jepang?

Alasan/tujuan berpartisipasi dalam Program Bahasa Jepang Musim Dingin di Universitas Meiji.

            Saya memberitahu teman bahwa saya ingin pergi ke Jepang untuk belajar budaya mereka. Saya berencana untuk bekerja paruh waktu selama dua mingggu disana. Uang hasil bekerja akan digunakan untuk biaya hidup di Jepang sekaligus belajar cara hidup orang Jepang. Beberapa hari kemudian, teman memberitahu saya tentang Program Bahasa Jepang Musim Dingin 2016 di Universitas Meiji. Meiji menyediakan program homestay (tinggal di rumah orang Jepang) dan memberi kesempatan untuk mendaftarkan diri sebagai penerima beasiswa  JASSO. Bukankah ini suatu kebetulan? (Tidak ada yang kebetulan di dunia ini, semuanya ada yang mengatur)

Hal yang Anda rasakan/dapatkan/pelajari setelah berpartisipasi dalam program ini

Di Jepang, kita belajar melakukan perjalanan pertama dari bandara menuju homestay dengan usaha sendiri tanpa dijemput. Ini merupakan tantangan dan saya menyukainya. Saya belajar menggunakan transportasi kereta, menemukan peron yang tepat di stasiun yang luas dan menghafal setiap stasiun yang terlewati menuju stasiun tujuan. Cukup membingungkan melihat kanji dimana-mana meskipun tersedia tulisan berbahasa Inggris. Semua hal memang harus kita nikmati.

Belajar bahasa Jepang di Universitas Meiji sangat menyenangkan. Dosen-dosennya mengajar materi tahap demi tahap, sistematis dan banyak latihan percakapan. Mereka langsung menjawab pertanyaan yang kita ajukan sehingga kita paham. Saya juga belajar membungkus barang dengan kain Furoshiki. Saya cukup takjub bahwa dengan kain yang sederhana dapat membungkus barang dari ukuran kecil (minuman botol plastik) sampai ukuran sangat besar (melebihi besar manusia yang membawanya). Ini sangat tradisional. Sebagai aplikasi ilmu yang sudah didapat, saya membungkus oleh-oleh dengan kain Furoshiki dan membawanya dari Jepang ke Indonesia (kain Furoshiki pemberian Meiji). Saya sangat senang.

Kegiatan lapangan lainnya yaitu memakai kimono. Saya memakai kimono berjenis Furisode. Itu adalah kimono dengan motif yang indah. Saat berjalan ke kuil terdekat, semua mata orang Jepang sepanjang perjalanan seolah tertuju pada kita. Mereka tersenyum sehingga rasa gugup berkurang. Memakai kimono yang ketat, berjalan menggunakan sandal khusus kimono dengan langkah kecil, melihat-lihat kuil bersama mahasiswa Jepang dan berfoto bersama dengan mahasiswa asing lain merupakan pengalaman tak terlupakan.

Tentang rencana/cita-cita masa depan

Saya berencana untuk pergi lagi ke Jepang dan tinggal lebih lama disana. Sebelum itu, saya akan melanjutkan belajar bahasa Jepang di Indonesia. Jika saya sudah lulus jenjang S1, saya berniat mendaftar beasiswa Monbukagakusho. Mempelajari sistem kesehatan, bertemu dengan keluarga homestay di Kamakura, meningkatkan disiplin diri disana adalah rencana saya ke depan. Pada akhirnya, saya akan mencoba untuk membuat sebuah karya yang akan memelihara dan meningkatkan kesehatan masyarakat Indonesia.

 

Depok, 26 Maret 2016

Dewi Erita

Mahasiswa Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat

Peminatan Kesehatan Reproduksi

Universitas Indonesia

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This Student's Voice have been published on the website.

Please visit the following website.

http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/aseancenter/english/program/voices.html

see also
http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/about/news/2016/enjsp30000000urz.html