Testing the Effectiveness of the “SehatPlus” Mobile Application in Improving Adolescents' Knowledge of Nutrition and Reproductive Health

Abstract

Background: The development of digital technology, particularly mobile applications, has opened up new opportunities for promoting adolescent health. The "SehatPlus" application was developed as a medium for adolescent nutrition and reproductive health education based on local culture and the latest technology. Methods: This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of the SehatPlus application in improving adolescent health knowledge. The main instrument was a structured questionnaire based on nutrition and reproductive knowledge indicators according to the standards of the Indonesian Ministry of Health and expert validation results. Data were collected from the intervention and control groups after a four-week intervention. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted to describe changes in knowledge scores. Results: The intervention group experienced an average increase in scores of 20.2 points, significantly higher than the control group, which only increased by 6.52 points. Bivariate testing showed that the difference in score improvement between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression showed that app use was the only significant predictor of increased post-test knowledge scores after controlling for age and gender (B = 13.21; SE = 1.88; β = 0.68; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that digital learning media based on an inclusive approach, such as SehatPlus, can be an innovative and equitable strategy for improving adolescent health literacy in Indonesia.