School Survey Evidence for Digital Reproductive Health Education and Implications for Public Health Administration

Abstract

Public agencies need local evidence to plan adolescent health education that responds to students’ information needs. This study examines understanding of birth rate control and its association with reported behaviour as a preliminary needs assessment for digital reproductive health education. A quantitative cross-sectional survey involved 70 students at SMP Negeri 55 Barombong, Makassar, Indonesia. A six-item questionnaire generated understanding and reported behaviour scores; additional questions recorded gender, grade, and trust in health information on social media. Analyses comprised descriptive statistics, internal consistency assessment, Pearson correlation, simple linear regression, and exploratory group comparisons. Mean understanding was 11.94 (SD = 2.413), and mean reported behaviour was 5.99 (SD = 1.280). The scores were positively associated (r = 0.516, p < 0.001), with the regression model accounting for 26.6% of observed behavioural score variance. Moderate or high trust in social media health information was reported by 90.0% of participants. Understanding differences by grade and gender were not statistically significant. Modest questionnaire consistency, incomplete recruitment and scoring documentation, and only one grade IX participant limit interpretation. For public health administration, the findings suggest priorities for locally adapted content, guided source appraisal, and coordination between education and health services. These are programme planning implications rather than tested administrative outcomes. The survey does not establish intervention effectiveness, actual contraceptive behaviour, or birth rate reduction; stronger measures and prospective evaluation are required before wider programme implementation.