Situmorang, Augustina
Description
Young people of today face demands, expectations, risks and temptations that are
more numerous and complex than any facing youth in the previous generation.
They are more mobile, more educated, reach menarche earlier and tend to marry
later. These massive changes, including the explosion of information across
international frontiers, have increased the exposure of young people to a variety
of risks related to reproductive health such as unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and
SIDs including...[Show more] HIV. However, because of socio-cultural and political concerns,
unmarried young people in many developing countries, including Indonesia,
receive limited parental guidance and community, and government support.
This study concerns single young Indonesians' attitudes and behaviour regarding
reproductive health and premarital sex including puberty, unwanted pregnancy,
abortion and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/ AIDS. Data used in
this thesis were mainly obtained from the 1997 /1998 Medan Adolescent
Reproductive Health Study, which I conducted over a period of seven months.
The study included a survey of 875 unmarried young people aged 15-24 in the
city of Medan. The respondents came from various ethnic and social groups
including those in high school and university and those working and
unemployed. Data obtained from the survey were analyzed through descriptive
statistics, including frequency and percentage distribution, bivariate analysis
including cross-tabulation and the chi-square test and logistic multivariate
regression analysis.
In addition to the survey, qualitative data were collected. Methods included in
qualitative approach are in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. A total
of 48 in-depth interviews were conducted involving married and unmarried
young people, parents, experts, NGOs representatives and policy makers. Eight
focus group discussions were conducted among high school students, university
students, working youth, street youth and married young people.
Young people in Medan are increasingly tolerant of premarital sex. Although for
most of them a woman's virginity is a great concern, it is no longer seen as the
most important factor in choosing a future spouse. The demise of parental
arrangement of marriage and the growing opportunity to know the future spouse
long before marriage means that the potential wife's personality is now of more
significance than her virginity. Losing virginity does not necessarily mean losing
respectability. Of 875 unmarried young people studied, nine per cent of women and
27 per cent of men reported having had sex; these figures doubled for those who
approved of premarital sex. Men had more positive reactions to their first sexual intercourse than women. More than half of men who reported having had sex did
not feel guilty or sinful the first time they did so, compared to only 20 per cent of
girls.
Religious affiliation significantly influences adolescents' attitudes for both sexes,
but it was insignificant as a determinant of differences in respondents' reported
sexual experiences. On the other hand age appeared to be important factors in
predicting the likelihood of reporting sexual experience among male respondents,
but they were not significant in predicting attitudes. Respondents' main activities,
whether they are studying, working or unemployed was the most important
predictor of the likelihood of approving of premarital sex as well as the likelihood
of reporting experience of premarital sex. Out-of-school young people are more
likely to approve of premarital sex and more likely to report having had sex.
Many young people engage in risky sexual behaviour out of ignorance.
Misconceptions about the onset of puberty, human reproduction, STDs including
HN /AIDS and contraception among young people are evident. Many young
people believe that a woman cannot become pregnant from a single act of sexual
intercourse; therefore, to avoid causing a pregnancy, some young men prefer to
have sex in a casual relationship or have sex only once in a month with the same
girl. Although the majority of Medan young people have known about STDs and
AIDS, misinformation still abounds. The most common errors are the belief that
STDs including HN can be avoided by maintaining physical stamina and the
belief that someone who is 'clean' and comes from a better-off family cannot
possibly have STDs. Misconception about the side-effects of using condoms are
also found. Fears that condoms may cause 'weakness' (lemas) and discomfort are
evident.
Young people urgently need comprehensive sex education as well as access to
safe and effective reproductive health services if they are to achieve better
reproductive health. Most young people in this study suggested that adolescents,
regardless marital status should be given such services. For some adolescents,
especially street youth, the issue is no longer on how to prevent premarital sex,
but on reducing risks attached to unprotected sex.
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