Digital Educational Media for Obesity and Menstrual Health Prevention in Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of digital educational media based on an integrated Health Belief Model (HBM),
Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework in improving knowledge, health beliefs,
self-efficacy, healthy behaviors, and menstrual health outcomes among adolescent girls.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted among 105 adolescent girls aged 12–18 years in
Pasir Putih Subdistrict, Jambi City, Indonesia, in 2025. Participants received interactive video-based education delivered
through digital platforms over a four-week period. Data were collected using validated questionnaires and anthropometric
measurements. Changes before and after the intervention were analyzed using paired statistical tests with a significance level
of α = 0.05.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in knowledge scores (62.4 ± 9.7 to 84.6 ± 7.3; p < 0.001), perceived
susceptibility (2.8 to 3.9; p = 0.002), perceived severity (3.1 to 4.2; p < 0.001), and self-efficacy (68.2 ± 10.5 to 86.9 ± 8.1; p <
0.001). Healthy lifestyle behaviors also improved, as reflected by reduced fast-food consumption (4.2 to 2.1 times/week) and
increased physical activity (2.3 to 4.5 days/week). Body mass index demonstrated a modest but significant reduction (24.8
± 3.2 to 24.3 ± 3.0; p = 0.032). The prevalence of menstrual disorders decreased from 63.8% to 42.9% (p < 0.001), with the
greatest reduction observed in irregular menstrual cycles (48.6% to 29.5%). Participants reported high levels of technology
acceptance, with mean scores of 4.3/5 for perceived usefulness and 4.5/5 for perceived ease of use.

Conclusion: Digital educational media based on an integrated HBM–SCT–TAM framework effectively improved health
knowledge, risk perception, self-efficacy, and healthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescent girls. The intervention was also
associated with a reduction in body mass index and the prevalence of menstrual disorders. These findings suggest that
digital health education is a promising strategy for the primary prevention of obesity-related reproductive health problems in
adolescent populations.

Keywords: adolescent girls; digital education media; Health Belief Model; menstrual disorders; obesity