Development and validation of a gamified sexual and reproductive health education module for adolescent boys in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: About one-third of Malaysian adolescents engage in sexual activities before the age of 14 years, putting them at risk for unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. However, implementing sex education in Malaysia remains controversial and challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a newly gamified sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education module (ReReki) tailored for Malaysian adolescent boys.

METHODS: The ReReki module was developed using the analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation model, based on the theory of planned behaviour. Content validation involved six adolescent health experts, using Russell's model validity approach and a content validity questionnaire. Games were then designed to complement the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) materials. The gamified ReReki module was pre-tested with 20 adolescent boys from a selected school, and the language was refined by a linguistic expert.

RESULTS: The module included five main topics, 29 subtopics and six games. The overall content validity score based on the survey method was 81.8%, while that based on Russell's model was 79.3%, indicating a high level of validity for the ReReki module. One new topic and two subtopics were added, while two subtopics scoring below 70% were flagged for further review. The adolescent boys expressed their acceptance of the gamified SRH content.

CONCLUSION: All five main topics, along with the 29 subtopics in the ReReki module, are suitable and ready for use by adolescent boys in the Malaysian context.