Sexual and reproductive health among female university students in Indonesia

Unaddressed issues and implications

Authors

  • Nurdiyanah Syarifuddin Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
  • Hai Phung Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
  • Cordia Chu Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

Keywords:

female, reproductive health, sexual health, students, universities

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues among female university students in Indonesia remain insufficiently recognised within higher education settings, often hidden by stigma and disconnected from formal campus-based support systems. This study explored the SRH issues among female university students in Indonesian universities. A qualitative study was conducted between August 2023 and January 2024, involving 157 female university students from four universities in Makassar, Indonesia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions and analysed using thematic analysis. Six interconnected themes were identified: menstrual and physical health challenges, sexual harassment and safety concerns, sexual behaviours and reproductive risks, sexual health-related diseases and prevention concerns, limited SRH knowledge and awareness, and sociocultural norms and stigma. Menstrual problems were the most frequently reported concern, while pregnancy outside marriage, harassment, HIV/AIDS, breast and cervical cancer, and vaginal discharge were recognised as important but often poorly understood SRH issues. Stigma, shame, and limited SRH literacy constrained discussion and help-seeking, leaving students’ SRH concerns largely private and disconnected from university-based support. The findings highlight the need for whole university approaches that integrate menstrual health, sexual violence prevention, confidential support services, and stigma reduction to address unaddressed SRH issues in Indonesian higher education.  

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Published

2026-06-21

How to Cite

Syarifuddin, N., Phung, H., & Chu, C. (2026). Sexual and reproductive health among female university students in Indonesia: Unaddressed issues and implications. Al-Sihah: The Public Health Science Journal, 18(1), 1–11. Retrieved from https://journal.uin-alauddin.ac.id/index.php/Al-Sihah/article/view/69157

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Volume 18, Nomor 1, January-June 2026

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Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Nurdiyanah Syarifuddin, Hai Phung, Cordia Chu

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