Contraceptive Services Available to Unmarried Sexually Active Adolescents

Background: Low contraceptive use amongst unmarried sexually active young men and women presents an ethical dilemma in Indonesia, particularly in realising reproductive rights as a fundamental human right. This study aims to address the difficulties in extending access to family planning for unmarried sexually active youths. Methods: A review of the laws relating to the provision of family planning was combined with a secondary data analysis of the 2012 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey throughout 6 provinces on the island of Java. The sample population included 5,150 unmarried adolescents, aged 15 to 24 years. The 2012 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey was the first and only survey that included unmarried young women in Indonesia. The association between subjects who had \u27ever had sex\u27 and three groups of predictors (demographic characteristics, peer influences, and knowledge of contraceptive methods) were examined using multivariate logistic regressions. Results:Results of the study found that subjects who were unmarried but had engaged in sexual activity were more likely to be those aged 19 to 21 years (OR = 2.36) and 22 to 24 years (OR = 6.81), of low education status (OR = 2.1), with a boyfriend or girlfriend (OR = 2.38), and those who approved of pre-marital sex (OR = 8.5). Conclusions: Results from this research suggest that new interpretations of the Law 52/2009 regarding family planning and Law 36/2009 that prohibits health services to unmarried sexually active youths are required in order to address the issues faced by Indonesia\u27s yout

Increasing Use of Research Findings in Improving Evidence-Based Health Policy at the National Level

In February 2016, the Minister of Health decided to increase the use of research findings in improving the quality of the national health policy and planning. The Ministry of Health has instructed the National Institute of Health Research and Development or NIHRD to play a stronger role of monitoring and evaluating all health programs, because “their opinion and research findings should be the basis for changes in national health policies and planning”. Compared to the past, the Ministry of Health has increased the research budget for evidence-based research tremendously. However, there is a gap between the information needs of program and policy-makers and the information offered by researchers. A close dialogue is needed between the users (program managers, policy makers and planners) and the suppliers (researchers and evaluators) to ensure that the evidence-based supplied by research is useful for programs, planning and health policy

Risk Differences Between Elderly Men and Women Toward Doctor-Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus in Urban Areas in Indonesia: 2013 National Basic Health Research Data

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Indonesia. Reportedly that DM is associated with various risk factors. Notably, it seems that the rising prevalence rates reflect changes in urban lifestyle. This study aimed to examine risk differences in the prevalence of DM among men and women aged 15 years and older that lived in urban areas in Indonesia. Analysis used secondary data of 2013 National Basic Health Research, which applied a cross- sectional study design. The total of sample was 333,731 respondents. Data processing and analysis used multiple logistic regression method. In general, findings showed that doctor-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DDDM) among urban men and women aged 15-39 years did not differ. However, the odds ratio of DDDM among older women aged 50-64 years was 30 times higher than women aged 15-39 years, while among the same age men was 21 times higher than younger men aged 15-39 years (p value < 0.001). In conclusion, entering the age of 50 years, women show a much higher risk of contracting DDDM than women with younger age, also much higher than older men towards younger men