Unpad Doctors Expose Hidden Crisis: Sexual Abuse Fuels HIV and Syphilis Risk Among Indonesian Teens

A shocking case from Bandung reveals the silent epidemic facing Indonesian adolescents: sexual abuse leading to life-threatening infections like HIV and syphilis. Researchers from Universitas Padjadjaran’s Faculty of Medicine, led by Dr. Pati Aji Achdiat and colleagues at Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, documented the case of a 15-year-old boy who contracted both infections after repeated forced sexual encounters. The case not only highlights a public health emergency but also sheds light on the psychological trauma often left untreated in survivors.

Doctors confirmed that the boy, who identified as bisexual, developed secondary syphilis and HIV after three episodes of sexual abuse by an older acquaintance. He was treated with antiretroviral therapy for HIV and penicillin for syphilis, while also referred for psychiatric care due to moderate depression and self-harming behaviors. “This case underscores how sexual abuse directly translates into lifelong medical and mental health burdens,” explained Dr. Achdiat.

The case study highlights urgent gaps in adolescent protection and sexual health awareness. It calls for stronger education on safe practices, wider availability of condoms, and more effective legal protections for vulnerable youth. The World Health Organization has already warned of a global decline in condom use among teenagers, further heightening the risks. For Indonesia, where stigma still prevents open discussions of sexuality, the findings emphasize the need for confidential counseling and adolescent-friendly health services.

By linking sexual violence, stigma, and health outcomes, this research contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Universitas Padjadjaran demonstrates global leadership by uncovering taboo yet urgent health challenges. Cases like this remind us that achieving healthier societies requires not just medicine, but protection, justice, and compassion.

Bandung, Indonesia — A vital breakthrough from Universitas Padjadjaran is making it easier to understand how Indonesians truly feel about their health. Researchers have successfully adapted and validated the Indonesian version of the PROMIS Global Health Scale v1.2, a global standard for measuring physical, mental, and social well-being.

Led by Dr. Vitriana Biben from the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, the study ensured that the tool was culturally appropriate, accurate, and easy to understand for Indonesian patients. The team tested the questionnaire on patients and health professionals at Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital and confirmed its validity through psychometric analysis.

“This gives us a reliable way to hear the patient’s voice, not just count their symptoms,” said Dr. Biben. “It helps doctors and policymakers make more informed decisions.”

The PROMIS tool allows healthcare providers to assess treatment outcomes beyond clinical results, capturing how patients feel in their everyday lives. It can be used in both primary care and specialist clinics and is especially helpful in measuring mental health, pain, fatigue, and social functioning.

Its simple design and low cost mean it can be deployed in both urban hospitals and remote clinics, helping to improve health equity across regions. The data collected can also be used for national health surveys, academic research, and public health planning.

By improving patient-centered care and data-driven decision-making, the study advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It marks Unpad’s innovation in public health tools and amplifies its contributions in the THE Impact Rankings.

Bandung, Indonesia — What does it take to prepare confident midwives? A qualitative study by Universitas Padjadjaran finds that supportive mentorship and practice-based learning are key to helping student midwives feel capable and ready to serve mothers safely.

Dr. Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani from the Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, led the study which interviewed midwifery students in Indonesia. The researchers explored the emotional and practical experiences of students during clinical training and identified key factors influencing their confidence and competence.

The study revealed that a lack of real-world clinical exposure, emotional support, and consistent guidance often left students feeling unsure and unprepared. In contrast, students who had structured clinical supervision, exposure to real birthing scenarios, and emotionally supportive mentors reported significantly higher levels of confidence.

“Confidence isn’t just taught—it grows when students are trusted, trained, and supported,” said Dr. Adnani. “Midwives are essential to maternal health, and their education must reflect the real-world complexity of childbirth.”

The findings suggest that integrating simulation-based learning, reflective practice sessions, and a structured mentorship framework into midwifery education can improve learning outcomes. It also recommends that hospitals and clinics work closely with midwifery schools to ensure safe, educationally rich placements for students.

Improving midwifery education through this approach promotes safer maternal and newborn care, reduces preventable complications, and boosts professional independence for women in healthcare roles. It also builds long-term capacity for rural and underserved regions where maternal mortality remains high.

This research supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). It emphasizes Unpad’s leadership in improving healthcare education models, especially in resource-limited settings, strengthening its global impact through the THE Impact Rankings.

A recent study led by Prof. Dr. Heda Melinda Nataprawira from the Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, shines a light on the challenges and outcomes of treating multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) in Indonesian children and adolescents.

Conducted over eight years at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung, the study found that while 70% of treated children had successful outcomes, a significant number—particularly younger children—either died before treatment or were lost to follow-up. Most patients were adolescents, suggesting that younger children may face more barriers to diagnosis and care.

“We found that children with more severe forms of TB—those with breathing difficulty, lung damage, or high bacterial load—were more likely to die,” said Prof. Heda. “But we also found that with appropriate treatment, many patients recover well.”

The team reported that newer all-oral medications reduced severe side effects, such as hearing loss, often caused by injectable drugs. Yet, over half of the patients still experienced mild to moderate adverse reactions.

This research highlights the urgent need to improve early detection and treatment access—especially for children under 10—who are often missed due to diagnostic limitations or health system delays.

Indonesia ranks among the highest in global TB burden, but this study gives local data that can inform better, child-centered treatment guidelines and public health strategies. It emphasizes the value of using safer, more effective drug regimens that can be managed closer to home and under family supervision.

Beyond improving TB outcomes, these findings also promote community health resilience and align with sustainable healthcare principles: shifting from hospital-heavy models to family-involved, accessible care using globally approved medicines.

This work directly supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, while Universitas Padjadjaran affirms its role as a regional leader in pediatric infectious disease research. By contributing critical evidence from Indonesia, this study also supports the university’s standing in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, advancing equitable global health.

In a quiet operating theater at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, a team of Universitas Padjadjaran surgeons prepared for one of the most delicate missions in medicine: repairing meningomyelocele, a severe birth defect where a newborn’s spinal cord protrudes through the back. The tiny patient, only hours old, lay under warm lights, her life just beginning yet already facing a major hurdle.

Led by Dr. Filla Reviyani Suryaningrat from the Faculty of Medicine, the team documented a series of such cases, aiming to improve surgical timing and post-operative outcomes for these fragile infants. Each moment in the process was critical — from anesthesia that wouldn’t overwhelm a newborn’s system, to meticulous closure of the exposed spinal cord, to infection prevention strategies that could determine survival.

Their findings showed that rapid surgical intervention, ideally within the first 24–48 hours of birth, significantly reduces infection risks and improves neurological outcomes. The team also identified crucial anesthetic protocols tailored for neonates, helping stabilize breathing and heart function during the procedure.

For parents, these results translate into clearer guidance: seek immediate referral to specialized centers upon diagnosis. For healthcare systems, it underscores the need for trained pediatric surgical teams and neonatal ICU support — resources that could save countless lives.

By refining neonatal perioperative care, this research advances SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, positioning Unpad as a leader in pediatric surgical innovation. “Every child deserves a healthy start, no matter how complex their first day of life,” Dr. Filla said.