Effects of the youth health literacy development program on behavior change to prevent unintended pregnancy problems, Health District 7

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research was aimed to study and compare the effects of the youth health literacy development program on behavior change to prevent unintended pregnancy problems, Health Region 7. The sample size was teenagers between 15-19 years, both males and females, who studying in government schools or private schools in Health Region 7. They divided into an experimental group and a comparison group of 80 people each. The experimental group received program in 12-week, while the comparison group did not receive the program. The results of the study after participating in the program found that 1) contraception, the experimental group had higher knowledge scores than the comparison group statistically significant (95% CI = 1.81 – 2.83; p-value<0.001) 2) Access to information on the rights of teenagers according to the prevention and solution of adolescent pregnancy problems in 2016, in experimental group had a significantly higher awareness score than the comparison group (95% CI = 10.27–16.94; p-value=0.001) 3) Receiving information and being aware of media to access medical services and a referral network for safe pregnancy termination, experimental group had higher awareness scores than the comparison group, that statistically significant (95% CI=0.62–6.99; p-value=0.020) 4) Decision-making skills in preventing unplanned pregnancy, the experimental group had a significantly higher knowledge score than the comparison group (95% CI = 1.81 – 2.83; p-value=0.001) and 5) Behavior in preventing premature pregnancy the experimental group had significantly higher scores than the comparison group (95% CI = 10.27–16.94; p-value<0.001). In conclusion, the research results show that the program able to increase health knowledge among teenagersm and changing behavior can prevent the problem of unplanned pregnancy. Therefore, the program should be applied to other groups of teenagers.