Pemberdayaan Santri Sebagai ‘Peer Educator’ Kesehatan Reproduksi Dan PHBS Melalui Buku Saku Digital Di Pondok Pesantren Batanghari

Empowering Islamic Students as Peer Educators of Reproductive Health and Clean and Healthy Living Through a Digital Pocketbook At Batanghari Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) and reproductive health remain major issues in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), including Darul Ikhwan Islamic Boarding School in Batanghari Regency. This community service program aims to empower students as peer educators through intensive training based on a digital pocketbook, with support from the Maro Sebo Ilir Community Health Center and the Danau Embat Village Government. Twenty-five students were selected from a pool of 50 students based on their communication skills and recommendations from their boarding school supervisors. The program, conducted in August 2025, began with a pre-test, presentation of material on reproductive health and PHBS, peer communication skills practice, and a post-test evaluation. Analysis using the Wilcoxon test showed a significant increase in students' knowledge (p=0.000), with 96% of participants experiencing an increase in their post-test scores. In addition to increased knowledge, all participants demonstrated effective communication skills, conveying health messages in a relaxed, participatory manner that was easily understood by their peers. The program results demonstrate that peer educator training can increase the capacity of students as agents of healthy behavior change in Islamic boarding schools. In conclusion, peer educator training was effective in improving students' knowledge and communication skills regarding reproductive health and PHBS. It is recommended that this program be expanded to include more students and provide cross-sector support to strengthen the sustainability of health education within Islamic boarding schools.