DEVELOPMENT OF ACARE (ADOLESCENCE CARE): AN ANDROID-BASED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION APPLICATION FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS AGED 12–15 YEARS IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Background: Reproductive health literacy among adolescent girls in Indonesia remains low, compounded by social stigma, limited parent–adolescent communication, and uncurated information access; digital media designed specifically for the 12–15-year age group remain scarce. Objective: To develop and test the feasibility of ACare (Adolescence Care), an Android-based reproductive health education application, based on expert assessment and acceptability among adolescent girls and teachers as target users. Methods: This Research and Development study used the ADDIE model. Feasibility was assessed by one media expert and two content experts across two validation stages separated by a revision cycle. Acceptability was tested through a small-group trial (10 students) and a field trial (30 students) at SMP Negeri 1 Palembang, with assessment by two teachers as field practitioners. Data were analyzed descriptively using percentages. Results: In stage I, ACare scored 73.3% from the media expert and 78.61% from the content experts (feasible). After revision, scores rose to 85.3% and 83.08% (very feasible). Student responses reached 88.32% in the small-group trial and 87.65% in the field trial (very good); teacher responses were 75.47% and 71.94% (good). Conclusion: ACare was feasible in both content and media and was well received by target users. Its effectiveness in improving knowledge and changing reproductive health behavior was not tested and requires further experimental studies with a comparison group.