Using information on household expenditure from the l994
Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (l 994 lDl?lS). it is found that there
is substantial variation in the level and distribution of household expenditure
in indonesia. Most households in Indonesia spend more money each month for
food than non-food items. In addition. poorer provinces (as measured by total
monthly household expenditure levels) tend to have greater inequality in the
distribution of wealth. However, in general Indonesia's is not typified by major
regional variations in the equality of household expenditure. Households with
high expenditure levels are more likely to use contraception than households
with low expenditure levels. In terms of individual methods, women residing
in wealthier households are more likely to be using injectables and female
sterilization, which suggest that poor accessibility and the cost of these
methods may be discouraging use among poorer women. However, implant
prevalence is greater in households with lower spending levels: while pills.
lUDs, condoms, and male sterilization do not have clear patterns of
association with household expenditure levels. As has been noted in previous
studies, poorer households rely more on public sector reproductive health
services (family planning, prenatal and delivery services). Households with
high expenditure levels rely more upon private hospitals. pharmacy/drug
stores, private doctors and private family planning' clinics for their family
planning care. Households with the lowest expenditure levels rely primarily
upon fieldworkers/PKLB, mobile units, traditional healers/dukuns,
government health centers (puskesmas), and government health posts
(posyandu). It is important to note that private sector social marketing
programs designed to offer methods through commercial outlets have been
less readilv utilized by Indonesia 's poorer households. Continuing efforts are
needed to ensure that poorer households are able to gain access to family
planning services. primarily through lower cost public sector providers and
segmented commercial distribution systems.
