The Relationship Between Providing Health Education and Compliance With The Consumption of Blood-Enhancing Tablets Among Junior High School Students

Iron deficiency anemia among adolescent girls remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia. Although the government has implemented the Blood Supplement Tablet (TTD) program in schools, adherence among junior high school students remains low due to poor understanding, fear of side effects, and lack of educational support. This study aimed to analyze the association between structured health education using audiovisual media and leaflets and compliance with TTD consumption among junior high school girls. A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group design was conducted. The sample consisted of 80 junior high school girls divided into an intervention group (n=40) receiving structured health education and a control group (n=40) receiving standard information. Data were collected via knowledge and attitude questionnaires, as well as TTD consumption observation sheets (pill count method) over 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank and Chi-Square tests. Prior to intervention, most respondents in both intervention (77.5%) and control (75.0%) groups were non-compliant. Following health education, compliance in the intervention group increased significantly to 85.0% (p = 0.000), whereas the control group showed no significant change (35.0%, p = 0.152). Post-test Chi-Square analysis confirmed a significant association between health education and TTD compliance (p = 0.000; OR = 10.52; 95% CI: 3.41–32.44). So, the structured health education effectively increases TTD consumption compliance among junior high school girls. Sustainable health education integrated into School Health Services (UKS) is highly recommended.