KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expected to have a baby boom in January next year, thanks to the Movement Control Order (MCO) which ends on April 14.
National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Health Unit head Dr Hamizah Mohd Hassan said the MCO could influx the country's birth rate by early next year as the majority of married couples have to stay at home.
Dr Hamizah was referring to the unusual new birth cases that occurred overseas especially in Maine and New Hampshire, United States of America after the states were closed for several weeks due to bad snowstorms in 1998.
“This is based on the statement by Patrick Whittle (Associated Press journalist) that in 1998 there was a bad snowstorm in Maine and New Hampshire.
“The two states had to be on lockdown and residents were confined in the house for a long period of time.
“Nine months later, the baby boom happened in those two states. Similar situation might happen in Malaysia as the people have to stay at home throughout the MCO period,” she said at a local televised programme here today.
Dr Hamizah also said to address the possibility of increase in the number of pregnancies, married couples have been encouraged to practice family planning through specific methods such as taking emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) to prevent pregnancy.
She said other methods include pregnancy hormone injection, Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD), implants or using conventional condoms.
“If you are worried about getting pregnant after a sexual intercourse, the wife can take two ECPs followed by one pill after 12 hours.
“The pill should be taken within 72 and 150 hours, or three days maximum. However, the result would be only 85 per cent effective.
“In the case of an expired IUCD or implant, the woman can take the condom or ECPs which can be purchased at pharmacies or clinics as it is categorised in category C without doctor's prescription."
She also advised married couples to plan ahead throughout the MCO period otherwise they should be prepared to receive their new born.
The government has implemented the MCO phase one from March 18 until 31 and extended it to phase two beginning April 1 until 14 to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.