Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Indonesia: Youth-Led Contraceptive Innovation

Transdisciplinary co-design of adolescent-responsive contraceptive care solutions to reduce unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion in Indonesia

Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion are among the most pressing health challenges facing young people in Indonesia. Despite growing awareness, access to safe and acceptable contraception tailored to adolescents remains limited. This initiative, led by Burnet Institute (Australia) in collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is building a foundation for sustainable change by engaging youth researchers to co-design contraceptive solutions that are evidence-based, scalable, and truly responsive to adolescent needs.

What We’re Building  

This program is more than research, it is a movement for adolescent health. We are establishing a cross-country research network with Youth Labs in Yogyakarta and Bali, where youth researchers aged 20–24 lead every stage of the study. Surveys conducted both face-to-face and online capture the lived experiences of adolescents, while qualitative interviews and co-design activities ensure their voices shape the solutions. Economic modelling provides the evidence to make these innovations efficient, sustainable, and ready for national scale-up.

Why It Matters  

Contraception is not just healthcare, it is about dignity, choice, and a safer future. In Indonesia, many adolescents face barriers to accessing reproductive health services, leaving them vulnerable to unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion. This program matters because it provides safe and accessible contraception tailored to adolescents, reduces risks of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion, empowers young people as researchers and decision-makers, and strengthens health systems through community-driven evidence.

Primary Beneficiaries  

This initiative is designed for those most directly engaged in adolescent contraceptive use. Youth researchers aged 20–24 and adolescent communities are at the center, supported by healthcare providers and educators who guide them, and policymakers who shape national reproductive health strategies. Together, these groups form the backbone of change.

Engagement Framework  

Creating lasting impact requires more than isolated interventions, it depends on building trust and maintaining dialogue over time. The program strengthens capacity through training and mentoring for youth researchers, expands reproductive health literacy with community-based education, fosters collaboration across institutions in Indonesia and Australia, and commits to global data-sharing so that lessons from Indonesia can inform practices worldwide.

Collaborators  

Addressing adolescent reproductive health is a shared responsibility that no single institution can achieve alone. This initiative is powered by 

• Burnet Institute, Australia
• Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
• International research networks and partners

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Indonesia is not simply a study, but a collective effort to reimagine adolescent reproductive health. By uniting young people, healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers, the program builds shared responsibility for change. Together, we can expand access to contraception, strengthen health systems, and secure safer futures for Indonesia’s youth.