REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LITERACY LEVEL OF ADOLESCENTS IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN SEMARANG CITY

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.32827/ijphcs.6.1.75

Background: Adolescence was very vulnerable to reproductive health problems, including sexuality (unwanted pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases), drug use, and HIV & AIDS. Semarang City teenage dating behavior was almost 50% very risky. Outcome of poor reproductive health behavior was caused by low levels of literacy of adolescent reproductive health. This study aimed to determine reproductive health literacy level of adolescent in senior high schools in Semarang City.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study with cross-sectional methods in 251 students. Primary data was collected by conducting to fill out questionnaires.

Result: The reproductive health literacy level of adolescent in high schools in Semarang City was still at the level of inadequate (33.1%) and problematic (48.2%). Indicators on the dimensions of reproductive health literacy levels showed that the majority of ability to access, understand, assess, and apply the reproductive health information was more than 50% in the inadequate and problematic categories.

Conclusion: The reproductive health literacy level of adolescent in high schools in Semarang City was in the low category. Various efforts are needed to increase the literacy level of adolescent reproductive health, including training and seminars on adolescent reproductive health in schools and increasing reproductive health information through social media.

Keywords: literacy level, reproductive health, adolescent