THE CONTRIBUTORY ROLE OF ADOLESCENT CADRES IN THE POSYANDU PROGRAM IN PANTOLOAN

Abstract

Early marriage is still a global problem, with the East Asia and Pacific region occupying the seventh highest prevalence of 15-year-old girls married. In Indonesia, Central Sulawesi Province ranks 12th in the prevalence of women married before age 18. Palu City is one of the regions with the highest marriage rate aged 10 years and above in the province. In the work area of the Pantoloan Health Center, there were 14 cases of child marriage between 15 and 17 years old in 2025. This study aims to analyze the contributory role of adolescent cadres within the Youth Posyandu program as part of early-marriage prevention efforts in the Working Area of the Pantoloan Health Center, Palu City, and to identify the extent to which current cadre activities support, rather than directly produce, early-marriage prevention outcomes. The study used a qualitative case study design with 13 purposively selected informants. Data collection was carried out through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, while data analysis followed the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn/verification. Credibility is maintained through extended observations, increased diligence, and triangulation of data and sources. The results of the study show that the role of adolescent cadres includes three stages, namely the preparation stage in the form of information dissemination through WhatsApp groups and peer-to-peer communication, the stage of implementing the Posyandu opening day in the form of anthropometry measurement, data recording, and health counseling assistance by midwives, and the stage after the opening day of the Posyandu has not run optimally because cadres have not clearly understood their duties and responsibilities.