Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to recognize a journey of sexual behavior of adolescent and to identify the need of sexual and reproductive health education for secondary school students in Kendari. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study carried out by applying a qualitative method with purposive random sampling in selecting five public and private Senior High Schools. The sample consisted of one hundred (100) teenage boy and girls, thirty (30) male and female teachers, twenty (20) parents and ten (10) respondents’ representative of education stakeholders. This qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussion and key informant interview. Then, the analysis of the data applied triangulation with descriptive qualitative analysis. Findings: The finding reveals that 95% students have lack of information regarding sexual and reproductive health issues, either from school, neither from home. They just received anatomy lesson and all students have never access to services since they do not know where to go and the service remains absent. This gap contributes to number of pressures such as peer pressure, parent’s pressure related to religious and cultural concern on premarital sex and media pressure experiencing by teenagers. More than 80% teachers agree to put this information into school’s lesson, although no many teachers are eligible to teach the subject. Surprisingly, all parents also agree to put this topic into appropriate school-based program since they have some challenges to communicate this sensitive issue with their children. Nine of ten educational stakeholders also agree to include this information into school-based program and pointed out the importance of school-based policy to include this topic into the existing program. They argue that school is a strategic place in providing acceptable and accurate information culturally and religiously acceptable pathway to support adolescent being responsible and stay healthy. Application/Improvements: School is a strategic place in supporting most of school age teenagers and sexual and reproductive health education through a moral framework with the local wisdom perspective is timely. This is a consensus on the critical importance in improving well-being of adolescents. 

Keywords: Secondary School Teenagers, Sexual Behavior, Sexual and Reproductive Health, School-based Program