Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy among Junior High School Students: Evidence from Surakarta, Indonesia

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Research Group Biology Education, Department of Biology Education Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia

2 Department of Natural Science Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Cases of early marriage and sexual violence remain prevalent in Indonesia, highlighting the urgent need for adolescents to possess adequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL). Junior high school students should have too to prevent risky sexual behaviors, such as premarital or casual sex. However, limited research has examined Indonesian adolescents’ perspectives and understanding of SRHL, and factors influencing the literacy levels. This study aimed to investigate the level of SRHL among junior high school students in Surakarta and to analyze the factors that influence it.

Material and Methods: An ex post facto survey was conducted in 2023 involving 447 students aged 13–15 years from eight schools representing the diversity of Indonesia’s school system (public, private, Islamic, and Catholic). Schools were purposively selected to ensure proportional representation, and students were randomly chosen. Data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting: demographic information, a 51-item knowledge test, and a 47-item attitude scale. Instrument validity and reliability were confirmed through expert judgment and field testing. Eta correlation was applied for nominal variables (age, gender, and school type), while Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze relationships between interval variables (knowledge and attitude). SRHL levels were categorized as inadequate, problematic, sufficient, or excellent.

Results: Of the total participants, 53.2% demonstrated a sufficient level of SRHL, 19.7% were excellent, 25.5% problematic, and 1.6% inadequate. Weak correlations were found between SRHL and both age (η² = 0.201) and school type (η² = 0.349), while gender showed no significant relationship (η² = 0.099). Knowledge and attitude showed strong positive correlations with SRHL (R = 0.524 and R = 1.000, respectively).

Conclusion: Most junior high school students in Surakarta demonstrated sufficient SRHL. Knowledge and attitude were found to be strongly and positively associated with sexual and reproductive health literacy levels.

Keywords

Acknowledgments: The study was supported by LPPM UNS, which funded this research through the Group Research Grant led by Murni Ramli with contract number 228/UN27.22/PT.01.03/2023.


Availability of data and materials: The authors confirm that the data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.


Conflict of interests: We declare that there is no competing of interest.


Consent for publication: Not applicable.


Ethical approval and consent to participate: This research followed the ethical principles outlined in Helsinki Declaration for studies involving human subjects. The ethical issue in the instruments had been validated by the gender experts and psychologists who are the members of Center for Demography and Gender Studies of Sebelas Maret University. 


Funding: Research Group Grant of Sebelas Maret University in fiscal year 2023/2024.


Author’s contribution: All authors equally contribute.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Available Online from 21 February 2026

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