The Role of Traditional Customary Payment Culture in Pregnancy Planning among the Ayamaru Tribe

Abstract

The bridewealth payment culture (uang adat) is an essential component of the Ayamaru community’s social structure in West Papua. This practice is believed to influence couples’ decisions regarding pregnancy planning, yet limited studies have examined it from a reproductive health perspective. This study aimed to analyze the role of bridewealth culture and family support in pregnancy planning among reproductive-age couples in the Ayamaru tribe. Methods is A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire tested for validity and reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.80). Analysis was performed using Chi-Square tests and multivariate logistic regression. The results A total of 65 respondents (54.2%) reported good pregnancy planning. High compliance with bridewealth culture was significantly associated with good pregnancy planning (p = 0.018; OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.25–5.00). Family support was also significantly associated with pregnancy planning (p = 0.041; OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.02–3.30). The combination of high compliance and family support showed the highest proportion of good pregnancy planning (73.3%). The conclusion is bridewealth culture and family support play a crucial role in pregnancy planning among the Ayamaru community. Reproductive health interventions in Papua should adopt a culturally sensitive approach by involving traditional leaders and extended families as strategic partners.