Effectiveness of digital media-based health education in improving adolescent health literacy on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61099/junedik.v4i2.452Keywords:
adolescent health literacy, digital health education, health promotion, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual healthAbstract
Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to pose significant health risks among adolescents, partly due to inadequate access to accurate health information and limited health literacy. Digital media has emerged as a promising platform for health promotion, yet evidence regarding its effectiveness in enhancing adolescent health literacy specifically related to STD prevention remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital media-based health education in improving adolescent health literacy regarding the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Research Methodology: A quasi-experimental study employing a pretest–posttest control-group design was conducted among 142 adolescents aged 15–19 years recruited from selected senior high schools in Makassar, Indonesia. Participants were allocated into intervention (n = 71) and control (n = 71) groups. The intervention group received digital media-based health education through educational videos, infographics, and interactive online modules for four weeks, while the control group received conventional health education. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired and independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple linear regression using SPSS version 29.0.
Results: Health literacy scores in the intervention group increased significantly from 63.1 ± 8.2 to 82.7 ± 7.4 (p < 0.001), whereas the control group showed no significant improvement (62.4 ± 8.5 to 66.1 ± 8.3; p = 0.056). Post-intervention scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (82.7 ± 7.4 vs. 66.1 ± 8.3; p < 0.001). A large intervention effect was observed (Cohen’s d = 1.91). Multiple linear regression identified digital media intervention as the strongest predictor of post-intervention health literacy (β = 0.503, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 49% of outcome variance (R² = 0.49).
Conclusion: Digital media-based health education is highly effective in improving adolescent health literacy related to STD prevention. Integrating evidence-based digital health education into school and community health programs may strengthen preventive behaviors, expand access to reliable sexual health information, and support adolescent health promotion efforts.
Downloads
References
1. Aidoo-Frimpong G, Adekunle T, Asfaw S, et al. Perspectives of immigrant and refugee youth in the U.S. On an interactive game for HIV prevention and sexual health. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2026;180:108699. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108699
2. Baird S, Choonara S, Azzopardi PS, et al. A call to action: the second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing. Lancet. 2025;405(10493):1945-2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00503-3
3. Alamsyah, Arfinayanti, Ruqaiyah, Tut Handayani, Ayatullah Harun. Health Information Exposure and Obstetric Emergency Knowledge Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Makassar, Indonesia. J Ilm Kesehat Sandi Husada. 2026;15(1):318-328. doi:https://doi.org/10.35816/jiksh.v15i1.261
4. Balakrishnan V, Yong KK, Tiong CK, Ng NJS, Ni Z. A Scoping Review of Knowledge, Awareness, Perceptions, Attitudes, and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Southeast Asia. Healthcare. 2023;11(8):1093. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081093
5. Barrientos Gómez JG, Arango Valencia S, Gómez Ramírez MC, Builes Moncada J, Echeverry AM. Identification of health educational needs of women in a vulnerable region. Clin Epidemiol Glob Heal. 2026;38:102279. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102279
6. Barrios Miras E, Esquerda Areste M. Sexual consent in adolescence. Influence of the consumption of «new pornography» on decision-making. An Pediatría (English Ed. 2025;102(4):503791. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpede.2025.503791
7. Chen T-J, Dong B, Dong Y, et al. Matching actions to needs: shifting policy responses to the changing health needs of Chinese children and adolescents. Lancet. 2024;403(10438):1808-1820. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02894-5
8. Chenneville T, Wasilewski S, Haskett M, Gabbidon K. Feasibility, acceptability, and potential utility of an evidence-based pregnancy prevention program among Black/African American middle and high school students in Florida. Eval Program Plann. 2025;112:102671. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102671
9. Cooper SC, Williams I V, Porter A, et al. ‘They’re not going to tell you everything’: A qualitative study with HPV vaccine hesitant parents and caregivers in the northeast and southeast U.S. Vaccine. 2025;68:127948. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127948
10. Duarte-Anselmi G, Sanduvete-Chaves S, Chacón-Moscoso S, López-Arenas D. Behavioral Determinants and Effectiveness of Digital Behavior Change Interventions for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV: Overview of Systematic Reviews. J Med Internet Res. 2026;28. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/74201
11. Elendu C, Amaechi DC, Elendu ID, et al. Global perspectives on the burden of sexually transmitted diseases: A narrative review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(20):e38199. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038199
12. Fernández-Sánchez H, Salazar-Alberto J, Fernández-Delgado JCM, et al. Mobile Apps for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention in Canada, Mexico, and the United States: Environmental Scan. JMIR mHealth uHealth. 2025;13. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/72009
13. Engel E, Gell S, Karsay K, Heiss R. Engagement With Influencers as Sources of Health Information and Product Promotions: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Austrian Youth Aged 15–25 Years. J Adolesc Heal. 2026;78(1):157-165. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.09.001
14. Ferretti A, Hubbs S, Dzikunu RM, et al. Typology and Ethical Considerations of Digital Health Promotion Tools for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Examples From Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. JMIR Form Res. 2025;9:e54472-e54472. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/54472
15. Hao NTM, Khanh HVN, Liamputtong P, Quan NK, Taylor-Robinson AW. HPV vaccine uptake by Young adults in Hanoi, Vietnam: A qualitative investigation. Vaccine X. 2025;23:100619. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2025.100619
16. Hasan K, Mahmood HR, Ether ST, et al. From Taboo to Touchscreen: A Qualitative Study of Digital Sexual and Reproductive Health Intervention for Bangladeshi Adolescents. J Med Internet Res. 2025;27. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/78514
17. Ifroh RH, Gai X. The Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Risk Behaviors of Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Executive Function Deficits. Int J Ment Health Promot. 2025;27(6):787-807. doi:https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.065065
18. Kidula N, Nguyen BT, Habib N, Kiarie J. The impact of male contraception on global sexual and reproductive health and rights. Contraception. 2025;145:110811. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2025.110811
19. Lam LT, Lam MKP. A Web-Based and Mobile Intervention Program Using a Spaced Education Approach for Workplace Mental Health Literacy: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Heal. 2024;11. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/51791
20. Matlin SA, Hanefeld J, Corte-Real A, et al. Digital solutions for migrant and refugee health: a framework for analysis and action. Lancet Reg Heal - Eur. 2025;50:101190. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101190
21. Mayer KH, Beyrer C, Cohen MS, et al. Challenges and opportunities in developing integrated sexual and reproductive health programmes. Lancet. 2025;406(10515):2168-2190. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01246-2
22. Naderbagi A, Loblay V, Zahed IUM, et al. Cultural and Contextual Adaptation of Digital Health Interventions: Narrative Review. J Med Internet Res. 2024;26. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/55130
23. Nierwany Daud, Mesra Rahayu, Ahmad Muhammad Kasim. Effect of Instagram-Based Healthy Snack Education on Adolescents’ Health Literacy: A Quasi-Experimental Time-Series Study. J Edukasi Ilm Kesehat. 2026;4(1):47-55. doi:https://doi.org/10.61099/junedik.v4i1.262
24. Ofori R, Boampong MS, Arthur AN, Sekyi D, Appiah SCY. Awareness and predictors of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases among early adolescents in koforidua, ghana: a mixed-methods study. Reprod Health. 2025;22(1):184. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-02070-6
25. Ong JJ, Unemo M, Molina J-M, et al. Beyond behavioural change: prioritising structural solutions to control bacterial sexually transmitted infections. eClinicalMedicine. 2025;83:103198. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103198
26. Oseku E, Mariaria PK, Semakula H, et al. Crowdsourcing a Training Dataset of Question-and-Answer Pairs for AI-Enabled Health Information Tools on Sexually Transmitted Infections: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Exploratory Survey Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025;14. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/70005
27. Power J, Grant R, Pym T, Gurtler P, Drysdale K, Mooney-Somers J. Beyond dental dams: a critical review of recent research on lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s sexual health. Soc Sci Med. 2025;380:118249. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118249
28. Purnat TD, Wilhelm E, Scales D, et al. Impacts of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Misinformation in Digital Spaces on Human Rights Protection and Promotion: Scoping Review. JMIR Infodemiology. 2025;5:e83747. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/83747
29. Qiuyi L, Yanan H. A mediation model of nurse’s perceived professional benefits between job crafting and turnover intention among junior registered nurses. Nurse Educ Today. Published online 2026:107200. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2026.107200
30. Veilleux M, Bourmaud A, Ghosn J, et al. Sexual health interventions for young people with mental disorders: a scoping review. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2026;186:108988. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108988
31. Xu J, Dai Z, Qiu Y, Wang L. A Multilevel Network Peer Intervention Among Student Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending University: Protocol for an Implementation-Effectiveness Before-After Cohort Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026;15. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/77078
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
License
Statement:
The authors retain the copyright of this work and grant Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan the right of first publication. The work is simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the initial publication in this journal are properly credited. The authors are permitted to copy and redistribute the published version of the work, including posting it to an institutional repository or including it in a book, with acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Azzah Khoridah Maulidiya, Amir Su'udi, Wibowo Wibowo, Emotional, mental disorders and depression in adolescents , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024): Volume 2 Number 2 August 2024
- Fitriani Fitriani, Fitri Anita, Lilis Lilis, Impact of husband support on maternal psychological well-being during pregnancy: a systematic review , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Volume 3 Number 2 August 2025
- Awatiful Azza, Zusana A. Sasarari, Etty Komariah Sambas, A. Wardah Muzfah, Impact of nursing interventions on the implementation of primary health care policies: A Systematic Review , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Volume 3 Number 3 December 2025
- Hijrah Hijrah, Suprapto Suprapto, Darmi Arda, Wibowo Wibowo, The role of home care in the management of hypertension in the elderly , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Volume 3 Number 1 April 2025
- Risna Ayu Rahmadani, Trimaya Cahya Mulat, Maria Kurni Menga, Darmi Arda, Diet to improve nutritional status in preschoolers , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): Volume 2 Number 1 April 2024
- Maria Kurni Menga, Ismarulyusda Binti Ishak, Wibowo Wibowo, M Khalid Fredy Saputra, Sarinah Sri Wulan, Dewi Nurhanifah, The effectiveness of listening to memory songs in reducing depression in the elderly , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 2 No. 3 (2024): Volume 2 Number 3 December 2024
Similar Articles
- Nierwany Daud, Mesra Rahayu, Ahmad Muhammad Kasim, Effect of Instagram-Based Healthy Snack Education on Adolescents’ Health Literacy: A Quasi-Experimental Time-Series Study , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Evi Nurmaisa Biduri, Cantika Suci Adlina, Fitri Windayani, Relationship between health literacy, preventive behavior, and non-communicable disease risk in urban communities , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Wahyuni Wahyuni, Hairuddin K, Dian Meiliani Yulis, Exploring the implementation of community-based health promotion programs for childhood diarrhea prevention in primary healthcare: A qualitative study , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Nofita Tudang Rombeallo, Nasri Nasri, Evi Damayanti, Effectiveness of public health education programs in improving healthy living behaviors: a systematic review , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Volume 3 Number 2 August 2025
- Tirta Asprimi Angreani, Suprapto Suprapto, Mapping the global landscape of mental health research: A systematic review of emerging trends, determinants, health policies, and future directions , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Isymiarni Syarif, Ismarulyusda Binti Ishak, Effect of Community-Based Health Education on Self-Care Behavior Among Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Indra Tri Astuti, Ching Min Chen, Health education with dietary adherence for people with diabetes mellitus in the community , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Volume 3 Number 3 December 2025
- Dian Meiliani Yulis, Value-Based Health Education Interventions and PHBS Change: A Qualitative Study , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Mery Kana, Fitri Anita, Effect of health campaigns through social media on changes in diabetes mellitus prevention behavior in young adults , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
- Abubakar Betan, Anwarul Azim Majumder, Relationship Between Nutrition Education and Dietary Compliance in Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study , Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
