The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a program designed to promote higher order thinking skills related to preventive pregnancy behavior among female vocational students in vocational colleges. The objective is to develop a learning process that advances thinking skills from basic levels to higher order skills, including analysis, evaluation, and creativity. The researcher intends to use the insights gained from this study as a guideline for teaching and organizing activities aimed at preventing unintended pregnancies in educational institutions and other organizations. This will benefit educational institutions, teachers, lecturers, knowledge providers, and vocational students in addressing and mitigating the issue of unintended pregnancies.

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to study The Effectiveness of A Higher Order Thinking Skills Promotion Programme on Behaviours to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy in Female Vocational Students. The sample group was female vocational students aged 15–19 who were in the process of being selected. The simple random sampling method was used to divide them into an experimental group of 20 students and a comparison group of 27 students. The experimental group received the program, which included activities to promote higher order thinking skills and preventive pregnancy behaviors using appropriate birth control lectures, watching videos, practicing analytical skills, evaluating, and creative thinking skills, which resulted in preventive pregnancy behaviors. Group brainstorming and discussion activities were conducted to reflect on ideas linked to role-playing, strengthening skills in refusal, negotiation, preventing and avoiding risky situations of having sex that may lead to unintended pregnancy, and sharing experiences. The comparison group was taught according to the regular curriculum of the educational institution. Data collection was done using pre- and post-experiment assessments and analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests. The results of the research found that the program resulted in a change in the average score of higher order thinking skills and preventive pregnancy behaviors that was higher than before the experiment and higher than the comparison group with statistical significance at the.05 level. The program can be applied. To be applied in the curriculum of teaching sex education and teenage pregnancy prevention, and there should be training for teachers to be able to directly, clearly, and without embarrassment convey knowledge in providing appropriate sexual health care to teenagers.