The Role of Health Reproduction Information Center in Improving Pre-Marital Sex Behavior among Adolescents in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara

Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is a major public health concern. A number of authors and organizations report that many adolescents world over are sexually active, and in some regions, as many as half are married. Literature shows that there is a need for improved reproductive health services aimed at adolescents throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the role of health reproduction information center in improving premarital sex behavior among adolescents in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara. Subjects and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, from April to June 2018. A sample of 200 senior high school students was selected by proportional stratified random sampling. The dependent variable was premarital sex behavior. The independent variables were health information center (PIK-KRR), intention, perceived behaviour control (PBC), and media exposure. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by a multiple logistic regression run on Stata 13. Results: Health information center had a positive effect on healthy premarital sex behaviour, but it was statistically non-significant (b= 1.64; 95% CI= 0.78 to 3.44; p= 0.188). Healthy pre-marital sex behavior increased with stronger intention (b= 17.18; 95% CI= 7.98 to 36.97; p<0.001), PBC (b= 2.54; 95% CI= 1.19 to 4.24; p= 0.016), and positive social media information exposure (b= 2.01; 95% CI= 0.95 to 4.24; p= 0.068). Conclusion: The existing health information center in Bima, East Nusa Tenggara, is seemingly ineffective. It has a positive effect on healthy premarital sex behavior, but it is statistically non significant. Healthy premarital sex behavior increases with stronger intention, PBC, and positive social media information exposure. Keywords: healthy premarital sex behavior, health information center, social media information exposure