Adolescent Reproductive Health in Indonesia: Contested Values and Policy Inaction

Abstract

This study examines the changing social and political context of adolescent sexual and reproductive health policy in Indonesia. We describe how, in 2001, Indonesia was on the brink of implementing an adolescent reproductive health policy that was consistent with international agreements to which the Indonesian government was a party. Although the health of young Indonesians was known to be at risk, the opportunity for reform passed quickly with the emergence of a new competing force, Middle Eastern fundamentalist Islam. Faced with the risk of regional separatism and competing politico-religious influences, the Indonesian government retreated to the safety of inaction in this area of policy. In the absence of a supportive and committed political environment that reinforces policy specifically targeted to young people's reproductive health, extremist approaches that involve considerable health risk prevailed. The sexual and reproductive values and behaviors that are emerging among single young people in contemporary Indonesia are conditioned by a political context that allows the conflicting forces of traditional Indonesian values, Westernization, and the strong emerging force of fundamentalist Islam to compete for the allegiance of young people.

Perilaku Seks Pranikah Remaja

“…1,2,4,5 Studi sebelumnya di Indonesia tentang perilaku seks pranikah remaja, memperoleh hasil sekitar 25% -51% remaja telah berhubungan seks pranikah. 6 Hasil Survei Kesehatan Reproduksi Remaja Indonesia (SKRRI) tahun 2007 menunjukkan sebesar 6,4% remaja laki-laki dan 1,3% remaja perempuan telah melakukan hubungan seks pranikah. Studi di Bali memperoleh hasil remaja laki-laki di sekolah menengah atas (SMA) dan di sekolah menengah pertama (SMP) lebih banyak yang berhubungan seks pranikah (40,3% dan 29,4%) dibandingkan dengan remaja perempuan (3,6% dan 12,5%).…”

“…7 Isu yang masih diperdebatkan sampai saat ini mencakup motivasi utama remaja untuk melakukan inisiasi seks pranikah pada usia yang lebih dini selain kaitan antara sumber-sumber informasi seksual dan perilaku seksual remaja yang terbatas. 8,9 Hasil penelitian Utomo dan McDonald, 6 menunjukkan perilaku seks pranikah disebabkan oleh rangsangan secara terus-menerus melalui materi-materi seksual di media cetak, internet, serta melalui teman sebaya (peer). Berdasarkan Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Learning Theory, Diffusion of Innovations Theory, dan Ideation Model, teman sebaya berperan penting sebagai determinan utama dari perilaku.…”

Self-Perceived Effects of Pornography Consumption in a Sample of Indonesian University Students

“…Recent changes in socioeconomic conditions, modernization, and access to global media among Indonesian youth have encouraged greater freedom and autonomy during the past two decades, contributing to the more liberal expression of sexual identity and sexual attitudes and behaviors (Harding, 2008;Utomo, 1997;Utomo & McDonald, 2009). Accordingly, recent research utilizing Indonesian samples indicates that both attitudinal and behavioral sexual permissiveness, including premarital sexual activities, is rising (Bennett, 2007;Ichwanny, 2010;Simon & Paxton, 2004) and that pornography is widely consumed (e.g., Hald & Wijaya Mulya, 2013;Supriati & Fikawati, 2009).…”

Migration and Transition to Adulthood

“…Within the last decade, the early and mid phases of youth and teenage years have been the focus of both documented research, and of recommendations of international and national committees and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). This has been the case with respect to Indonesia (Bennett, 2003;Hasmi, 2001;Hull, Hasmi, & Widyantoro, 2004;Utomo, 1998;Utomo, 1999;Utomo & McDonald, 2009), other developing countries (for example, Jejeebhoy's [2000Jejeebhoy's [ , 2006) work on adolescents in India; Mensch, Bagah, Clark, and Binka (1999;Mensch, Clark, Lloyd, & Erulkar, 2001), as well as Meekers and Ahmed's (1999) and Meekers, Gage, and Li (1995;Meekers, Stallworthy, & Harris, 1997) work on African countries; Lloyd's (2005), Singh's (1998), Singh and Samara's (1996), Singh, Henshaw, and Berentsen (2003), Xenos's (1997) and Xenos et al's (2001) work on several developing countries), and developed countries (for example, see Arnett [1992]). There is no doubt that a recognition of the needs of adolescents is important in social policy and education policy terms, but this still leaves unaddressed important problems of the next older group whom we describe as young adults.…”