Indonesia is embracing a demographic dividend from 2020-2035, with its population having a composition of a projected 70% for productive age. To optimise this opportunity for productivity, the young population of Indonesia must be healthy. The challenge of having a healthy generation exists in various aspects, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Having improved in several demographic indices, such as significant decline of TFR, ASFR 15-19, increasing age at first marriage and improving infant and maternal mortality rate, calls for better understanding of other issues on the problems of sexual and reproductive health. There is much evidence of low comprehensive sexual and reproductive health knowledge of Indonesian youth. This condition is associated with risky behaviour that causes problems related to HIV and STIs, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, child marriage and sexual violence leading to criminal murders.

Currently, there is no uniform platform and method for delivering sexual and reproductive health information. It is not formally included in the school curricula, and has been heavily contested culturally and politically. As many scholars try to contribute to the growing body of knowledge that advocates improvements in sexual and reproductive health of Indonesian youth, this study would contribute new evidence to the body of knowledge on the importance of sexual and reproductive health of Indonesian youth. This study would in particular contribute in providing evidence on what works when delivering sexual and reproductive health information, education and communication by providing a better portrait of current and past trends of SRH knowledge of Indonesian youth based on the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) first.

This thesis will examine SRH programs from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and also The Indonesian National Population and Family Planning Board (NPFPB) and determine whether the programs are meeting the needs of Indonesian youth. Following that, I will explore other SRH programs of Indonesian youth and identify how they work and how they influence youth followed by identifying the current information seeking behaviour of Indonesian youth on SRH. Lastly, based on the aforementioned studies, I will revisit policies related to sexual and reproductive health of Indonesian youth, to provide policy recommendations related to the matter.

Syauqy Lukman is a PhD candidate in the School of Demography at the ANU. Prior to his study, he has worked as a lecturer and researcher at The Faculty of Communication, Universitas Padjadjaran. Syauqy holds a Master’s degree in Management from Institut Teknologi Bandung and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Universitas Padjadjaran. His research interests are on topics of Indonesian youth with a focus on studies of sexual and reproductive health.

Contact: Susan Cowan | susan.cowan@anu.edu.au