Traditional balinese youth groups as peer educator to improving knowledge and attitude adolescents about reproductive health in South Denpasar

The high level of pre-marital sexual behavior and marriage of children in Indonesia is caused by the lack of adolescent knowledge about reproductive health. Adolescents prefer to discuss with peers compared with parents and teachers. Health education activities by peers have been largely school-based, but still rarely involve teenagers in the community. The purpose of this study is to know the effectiveness of Traditional Balinese Youth Groups (Sekaa Teruna Teruni/STT) as peer educators to improve adolescent knowledge and attitude about reproductive health. The research method was conducted with One Group Pre-test Post-test design. Before the counseling, as many as 42 members of STT were trained by health professionals using module media. Furthermore, they provided counseling to 210 randomly selected adolescents from 14 region (Banjar) in South Denpasar. Counseling using booklet media. Pre-test and post-test knowledge and attitude about reproductive health are done by using questionnaire. The training of STT members on reproductive health showed an increase in knowledge (p-value = 0.000) and attitude (p-value = 0.000) RR 95% CI (1.6514.415). After adolescence is given counseling by peer educators, there is increased knowledge (p-value = 0.000) and attitude (p-value = 0.000) RR 95% CI (2.575-4.217). The results show that Sekaa Teruna Teruni is very effective as peer educator of reproductive health. Next, there needs to be ongoing training for the empowerment of STT as peer educators in various health programs.