According to the Central Statistics Agency, in 2020 the young population (10-24 years) is predicted to reach 67.8 million or around 25% of the total population. So the issue of health and welfare in the young age group is important to study considering its significant effect on the population.

The young age group faces many challenges during their growth and transition to adulthood. This challenge is increasingly complex with the factors of social media, urbanization, unhealthy diets, climate change and migration. Gender and sexual socialization are important processes that influence sexual behavior and (risks to) health and well-being. Unfortunately, this topic is rarely studied from the perspective of young people. Additionally, in Indonesia (as in many other places), research and interventions related to the sexual and reproductive health of young people often take a health- or risk-based approach, with an explicit or implicit focus on preventing premarital sex. This approach often omits a broader focus on the context surrounding young people and its influence on their sexual and reproductive values and behavior. There is little research on how contemporary young people in Indonesia respond to forces that often conflict with traditional Indonesian values, media and globalization, social norms, personal and relational interests, and the power of solid conservative Islam. So research is needed to answer reproductive health problems faced by teenagers.

Youth Voice Research (YVR) research seeks to address this gap. This study aims to understand how young people aged 18 to 24 years experience and respond to various messages, norms and expectations related to gender and sexuality, and how this manifests in romantic and sexual behavior online. YVR is qualitative research that is part of the Explore4action (E4A) program.

Explore4action (E4A) itself is an international program designed by Johns Hopkins University, Karolinska Institute, Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta (UGM) Center for Reproductive Health, and PBKI (Indonesian Family Planning Association) to look for factors that can influence teenagers to have a smooth transition period. experienced by healthy and positive teenagers. There are 3 data collection locations, namely Bandar Lampung (Sumatra), Semarang (Java), and Denpasar (Bali). These three sites represent different backgrounds and cultures so they are considered to represent Indonesia. Data collection was carried out using focus group discussions (FGD) with groups of students and groups of parents at schools that received the SETARA (Semangat Dunia Pemuda) intervention.

The findings in this research will be used to support improving adolescent reproductive health interventions in Indonesia, especially the implementation of Reproductive Health Education.