Youth Researcher Training: Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Unsafe Abortion in Indonesia

Yogyakarta, Mei-June 2026 – Burnet Institute Australia, in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Health at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted an intensive training program for seven youth researchers as part of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Indonesia initiative. The training, held throughout May-June 2026 in Yogyakarta, laid the foundation for subsequent field research in Yogyakarta and Bali.

Facilitated by researchers from Burnet Institute and UGM, the program featured a series of activities designed to strengthen both technical and ethical research capacities. These included the Value Clarification and Action Transformation (VCAT) workshop, co‑design of modern contraception promotion materials, mapping of self‑care providers, and training in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Through these sessions, youth researchers were equipped to listen without judgment, reflect on values and social norms shaping reproductive health, and co‑create adolescent‑responsive contraceptive solutions.

“This training is not only about building technical skills, but also about empowering young researchers to become ethical and reflexive leaders. By engaging youth directly, we ensure that the solutions developed are truly relevant to the realities of adolescents in Indonesia,” said Dr. Rana Islamiah Zahroh, Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

The seven youth researchers trained under this program will play a central role in the upcoming data collection phase, ensuring that the voices and experiences of adolescents are central to the research. This collaboration underscores the importance of youth‑led research in driving inclusive, sustainable, and context‑specific innovations to prevent adolescent pregnancy and improve reproductive health outcomes in Indonesia.