BARRIERS TO EMPOWER ADOLESCENTS IN PREVENTING PREMARITAL PREGNANCY: (QUALITATIVE STUDY IN CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA)

Objective: Empowering adolescents with life skills to enable them to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections is urgently felt, but certain bottlenecks still persist in the path of making the adolescents responsible for their own sexual and reproductive health. This study aims to investigate the barriers that prevent teenagers from comprehending and taking charge of their sexual and reproductive well-being. Material and Methods: Qualitative method was utilized, which included interviews with 35 teenagers from 20 villages and ten supervisors from five health facilities experiencing high levels of premarital pregnancies. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, information was gathered through video conferences, and a thematic analysis was carried out utilizing Atlas.ti (version 8). Results and Discussion: The pandemic impacted the behaviors of teenagers, leading to a decrease in premarital pregnancies among some due to fewer social interactions. Nonetheless, risky sexual behaviors continued due to insufficient sexual knowledge, cultural restrictions, and lack of communication among teenagers, parents, and teachers. The results emphasize the importance of thorough sexual education, better communication between parents and educators, and the active participation of teenagers in reproductive health programs. Enhancing life skills education in schools, backed by health centers and communities, is crucial in empowering adolescents to make educated decisions. Improved training for program managers is essential to guarantee the effectiveness of youth-friendly services. Recommendation: Youth-friendly health services should include active adolescent participation to foster self-reliance and empowerment. Tailored approaches and engagement can improve adolescent health outcomes.