After 25 Years as a Midwife, Priscilla Is Just Now Learning How to Insert an IUD

During her 25 years as a midwife, Prischilia Lekatompessy has helped many women access health care in Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. However, there is one procedure she has never performed: inserting contraceptive implants or IUDs (intrauterine devices), commonly known as “spiral” contraceptives. It’s not that she doesn’t want to; rather, she has never received adequate training.

“Midwives who haven’t undergone training shouldn’t perform implant or IUD insertions. That’s my principle, too: if I haven’t been trained, I won’t do it. What if, for example, there were side effects because I hadn’t been trained?” said Prischilia.

Prischilia’s story reflects the challenges still faced by many health workers in Indonesia’s archipelago, including in Central Maluku Regency. In this region, which consists of scattered islands, women’s access to contraceptive services is often hindered by the limited number of providers skilled in administering contraceptives, particularly Long-Acting Contraceptive Methods (LACMs) such as implants and IUDs.

In fact, access to high-quality contraception is essential in helping women plan their pregnancies, maintain their reproductive health, and make choices that align with their life circumstances.

To help address these challenges, the IPAS Indonesia Foundation, through the ARUMBAE Program (Empowered and Capable Women Free from Violence), trained 25 midwives from five community health centers in Central Maluku Regency from July 30 to August 16, 2026. This training aims to build the capacity of health workers so that more women can access high-quality contraceptive services tailored to their needs.

Siti Amina Yanwarin, a training observer and Technical Policy Analyst at the Central Maluku Health Office, emphasized that there is still a significant need to build the capacity of health workers in providing contraceptive services.

“Based on our estimates, there are about 400 midwives in Central Maluku, and most of them have not yet received training on contraception. So there is indeed a need for capacity building,” he said.

However, the challenges faced by women extend beyond the availability of trained health care providers. Even after receiving information and services, the decision to use contraception is often influenced by support from family and the surrounding community.

During the training session, the midwives often shared similar experiences regarding family support. For example, Midwife Elen Zusana Taihuttu said that some women do not receive support from their partners or families. Others still believe in myths about certain contraceptive methods.

“Sometimes the husband doesn’t want to because they only have one child. When it comes to IUDs, some patients say their husbands don’t agree. Others are concerned about having a foreign object inside the uterus, so they simply don’t want one,” added Elen.

Through this training, midwives like Prischilia and Elen have the opportunity to improve their skills and confidence in providing contraceptive services. As more health care workers are trained, women in Maluku will have greater access to quality reproductive health services whenever and wherever they need them.