The Role of Health Reproduction Information Center in Improving Pre-Marital Sex Behavior among Adolescents in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara

Mulya Tarmidi¹⁾, Argyo Demartoto²⁾, Eti Poncorini Pamungkasari³⁾

¹⁾Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret

²⁾Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret

³⁾Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is a major public health concern. A number of authors and organizations report that many adolescents world over are sexually active, and in some regions, as many as half are married. Literature shows that there is a need for improved reproductive health services aimed at adolescents throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the role of health reproduction information center in improving pre-marital sex behavior among adolescents in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

Subjects and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, from April to June 2018. A sample of 200 senior high school students was selected by proportional stratified random sampling. The dependent variable was pre-marital sex behavior. The independent variables were health information center (PIK-KRR), intention, perceived behaviour control (PBC), and media exposure. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by a multiple logistic regression run on Stata 13.

Results: Health information center had a positive effect on healthy pre-marital sex behaviour, but it was statistically non-significant (b= 1.64; 95% CI= 0.78 to 3.44; p= 0.188). Healthy pre-marital sex behavior increased with stronger intention (b= 17.18; 95% CI= 7.98 to 36.97; p<0.001), PBC (b= 2.54; 95% CI= 1.19 to 4.24; p= 0.016), and positive social media information exposure (b= 2.01; 95% CI= 0.95 to 4.24; p= 0.068).

Conclusion: The existing health information center in Bima, East Nusa Tenggara, is seemingly ineffective. It has a positive effect on healthy pre-marital sex behavior, but it is statistically non-significant. Healthy pre-marital sex behavior increases with stronger intention, PBC, and positive social media information exposure.

Keywords: healthy pre-marital sex behavior, health information center, social media information exposure

Correspondence: Mulya Tarmidi. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami No. 36 A, Surakarta, Central Java. Email: bluedaeng@gmail.com. Mobile: +6285238609735

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/theicph.2018.02.43

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