The Indonesian Ministry of Health has reported a rising trend in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents aged 15-19 over the past three years. In 2024 alone, there were 4,589 recorded cases within this age group.
“While the majority of STI cases occur among adults aged 25-49, the last three years have seen a notable increase among teenagers,” explained Dr. Ina Agustina Isturini, Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, during a press conference on Friday, June 20, 2025.
Dr. Ina pointed out that the surge in reported STI cases among adolescents aligns with a significant rise in testing. In 2022, 85,574 people underwent STI screening, which nearly doubled to 158,378 in 2023. The upward trend continued sharply in 2024, reaching 291,672 screenings.
Geographically, most cases among 15 to 19-year-olds were detected in major urban centers. Syphilis emerged as the most prevalent infection within this group. “Of the 4,589 STI cases reported in 2024 among adolescents, about 48 percent—2,191 cases—were syphilis,” Dr. Ina revealed.
