Disparities in Knowledge and Accessibility of Reproductive Health Information Between Early and Middle Adolescents in Pekalongan City

¹ Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
² Division of Epidemiology and Tropical Disease, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
³ Division of Health Policy and Administration, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ Division of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁵ Department of Health Informatics, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
⁶ Regional Strategic Information Advisor ICAP, Columbia University, Nairobi, Kenya

^* Corresponding novia.handayani@live.undip.ac.id

Abstract

Reproductive health issues, such as early sexual activity, unintended pregnancies, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), are growing concerns among adolescents in Pekalongan City. Many adolescents lack adequate knowledge and access to reliable reproductive health information, contributing to risky behaviors and adverse health outcomes. This study analyzes the disparities of the reproductive health knowledge and accessibility of information among early adolescents (10-14 years) and middle adolescents (15-17 years) in Pekalongan City. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with 188 respondents selected via accidental sampling. Data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test to analyze differences between groups. The results showed significant differences in education level (p=0.001), knowledge of reproductive health (p=0.001), and access to reproductive health information (p=0.026). The result means the middle adolescents had higher knowledge and better access compared to the early adolescents. However, it was shown that no significant differences were found for gender (p=0.931) or monthly allowance (p=0.082). Both groups showed significant gaps in understanding puberty, pregnancy, and STI prevention, with limited access to reliable reproductive health information. The study showed the urgent need for early, age-appropriate reproductive health education and improved access to reliable resources in Pekalongan City to prevent unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and STI transmission, by promoting informed decision-making and youth well-being.