PEER EDUCATOR CAN CHANGE THE HEALTH LITERACY IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Many reproductive health problems in adolescents such as unwanted pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, and HIV-AIDS are caused by poor reproductive health literacy. Improving reproductive health literacy can be done with peer group methods, this is because peer groups not only provide information and experiences but also become real examples in groups. The purpose of the study was to explain the influence of peer groups on adolescent reproductive health literacy. The research method uses pre-experiments with the one-group pretest-posttest design. The population in the study was 45 adolescent girls at the Thomas Morus girls' dormitory. Sampling is used purposive sampling. Based on the inclusion criteria, a sample size of 40 people. The study was conducted in September 2021 at the Thomas Morus girls' dormitory, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The data was collected using the HLS-EU-47Q questionnaire and analysed with the paired t-test. The results showed there was a peer group influence on adolescent reproductive health literacy (p <0,000). Peer groups are shown to improve adolescent reproductive health literacy, therefore, nurses and other health care providers must provide comprehensive and holistic reproductive health promotion that focuses on adolescent abilities through peer groups, so that adolescents have good reproductive health literacy and do not perform risky sexual behaviours.