Adolescent Reproductive Health in Indonesia: Contested Values and Policy Inaction

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in family planning 2009-06, Vol.40 (2), p.133-146
Main Authors: Utomo, Iwu Dwisetyani, McDonald, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Abortion, Induced - statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
Adolescents
Cultural values
Education
Family planning
Family studies
Female
Health
Health care policy
Health Education
Health Policy
HIV Infections - epidemiology
Human sexual behavior
Humans
Indonesia
Indonesia - epidemiology
Islam
Male
Morals
Parents
Political Factors
Politics
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Unplanned
Premarital sex
Religion
Religious influences
Reproductive health
Reproductive Health Services - organization & administration
Reproductive Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Risk
Risk Factors
Sex education
Sex workers
Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data
Sexual Reproduction
Social Change
Teenagers
Values
Youth
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0039-3665
1728-4465
DOI:10.1111/j.1728-4465.2009.00196.x