Peer Group Empowerment to Improve Teenagers' Behavior in Consuming Blood Supplement Tablets Through the Youth Integrated Healthcare Center Program

Backgrounds: South Sulawesi Province ranks in the top 7 with a percentage of 58.9% coverage of TTD provision to adolescent girls. Based on data from the Gowa District Health Service in 2021, it shows that the number of coverage for taking blood-added tablets among young women is 57% of the accumulated achievements of 26 health centers, where the health center with the lowest number of coverage for taking blood-added tablets is one of the Kanjilo Community Health Centers with an achievement of 18% of 1239 targets targets. Youth Integrated Healthcare Center with a peer-group approach allows for continuous interaction between peer educators and their peers so that the delivery of information is more intensive. This research aims to determine the effect of peer group empowerment to increase adolescent behavior in consuming blood supplement tablets at the Youth Integrated Healthcare Center, Barombong District, Gowa Regency. Methods: This research uses a quantitative method of quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test group approach. The population in this study were all members of the youth Integrated Healthcare Center in the Kanjilo health center working area, Barombong sub-district, South Sulawesi province, who were divided into two groups, namely the intervention group and the control group, each with 40 people. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant effect of peer group empowerment intervention on intention, self-efficacy, knowledge, attitudes, parental support, and teacher support in the intervention group and control group in consuming blood supplement tablets in youth Integrated Healthcare Center with a p-value < 0.05. Apart from that, the results showed that adolescent Integrated Healthcare Center participants were more disciplined in consuming blood supplement tablets because of peer invitations which made changes in adolescent behavior in a more positive direction. Conclusion: There is a significant influence between the intervention group and the control group before and after being given counseling and peer group empowerment training on adolescent behavior in consuming blood supplement tablets.