Sexual risk attitudes and behaviours among young adult Indonesians
Simon, S.; Paxton, S.J.
Culture, Health and Sexuality 6(5): 393-409
2004
DOI: 10.1080/13691050410001680519Document Number: 236703
This research explored the beliefs of 18-24-year-old Indonesians of Javanese and Chinese background regarding perceptions of sexual behaviour and condom use. Participants were volunteers from 10 Surabaya universities in Indonesia . 25 same gender and ethnic background focus groups were conducted. Sex before marriage was believed to be becoming more usual and acceptable among young adults, although parental and religious disapproval were recognized. Boyfriends and girlfriends were considered to be the most usual sex partners. However, sex workers were believed to be moderately frequent partners for Chinese-Indonesian males. 'Safe sex' was mainly associated with pregnancy prevention. The risk of contracting a sexually transmissible infection (STI), including HIV, was regarded as low and condoms were believed not to be used often for disease prevention. A number of ineffective strategies were believed to prevent or cure STIs, suggesting that STI prevention interventions in Indonesia still need to emphasize improving knowledge. Ambiguities in condom provision and circumstances for use are likely to make negotiating condom use difficult. Perceptions of the acceptability of use of sex workers amongst more affluent young males, and the negative attitudes towards condom use under these circumstances, suggest prevention interventions should particularly address this dangerous combination.