Effectiveness of social media as a health promotion tool for reproductive health among adolescents: A cross-sectional study

Matilda Martha Paseno (Department of Nursing, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Stella Maris Makassar, South Sulawesi)
Rosmina Situngkir (Department of Nursing, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Stella Maris Makassar, South Sulawesi)
Yunita Gabriela Madu (Department of Nursing, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Stella Maris Makassar, South Sulawesi)

Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Sandi Husada (JIKSH)
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): Articles in Press

Introduction: Adolescent reproductive health remains a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries where access to accurate reproductive health information is often limited. Social media has emerged as a widely used communication platform among adolescents and may serve as an alternative medium for reproductive health promotion. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of social media as a health promotion tool for reproductive health among adolescents. Research Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 250 adolescents from selected senior high schools in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Respondents were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing information accessibility, perceived credibility, user engagement, and frequency of exposure to reproductive health content on social media. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation tests, and multiple logistic regression, with a significance level of α = 0.05, in SPSS version 26. Results: Perceived credibility was the strongest predictor of social media effectiveness in reproductive health promotion (AOR = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.67–5.59; p < 0.001). Frequent exposure to reproductive health content was significantly associated with higher perceived effectiveness (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.28–4.46; p = 0.004). High user engagement (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.16–3.79; p = 0.011) and information accessibility (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.39–4.65; p = 0.002) were also significantly associated with positive educational outcomes. Conclusion: Social media is an effective platform for reproductive health promotion among adolescents when information is accessible, credible, and interactive. The findings highlight the importance of evidence-based digital health communication and support, integrating adolescent-centered social media strategies into reproductive health promotion programs