EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON ADOLESCENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PREVENTION OF PREMARITAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN PEKANBARU, INDONESIA

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of free sex behavior among adolescents is increasing, and this can have negative impacts on their physical and mental health. Health education on the prevention of free sex is very important to improve adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes toward responsible sexual behavior. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of health education on adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes toward the prevention of premarital sexual behavior at Public Junior High School (SMPN) 13 in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. Methods: This quantitative study employed a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest approach. The sample consisted of 80 students selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using validated questionnaires on knowledge and attitudes, and health education was delivered through educational videos. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests to compare pretest and posttest scores. Results: The findings showed a significant improvement in both knowledge and attitudes after the health education intervention. Statistical tests indicated a p-value of 0.000 (< 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. This result demonstrates that health education had a significant positive effect on adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes toward preventing premarital sexual behavior. Conclusion: Health education is effective in improving adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes regarding the prevention of risky sexual behavior. Future studies are recommended to include control groups to allow stronger comparisons and to evaluate the long-term impact of educational interventions.