OBJECTIVE .This study aimed to describe the pubertal and premarital knowledge and attitude of adolescents in the rural town of Pelaihari, South Borneo, and its association with previous information given.
METHOD.A cross sectional study was conducted in five high schools in Pelaihari, South Borneo. Adolescents aged 14-18 years were randomly selected to be included in this study. Subjects were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Questions on puberty differed between genders. Data description and analysis were conducted. 
RESULTS.As many as 256 subjects were recruited in this study (138 boys [53.9%] and 118 girls [46.1%]). The median age of subjects was 16 (14-18) years. Most boys (87.7%) wrongly answered the normal age for puberty. Less than half (41.3%) of boys agreed to seek medical health if puberty does not occur at age of 14 years. In girls, almost half (44.9%) of subjects answered that severe dysmenorrhea is normal. A large proportion of girls (77.1%) incorrectly answered the time to change sanitary pads daily. The majority of females felt ashamed and uncomfortable at menarche (80.5%) and decreased physical activity when menstruating (71.2%). The dominant sources of information on puberty in boys were parents (67%), teachers (69%), peers (55%), and healthcare workers (53%); while in girls were parents (85.6%). On premarital knowledge, the percentages of subjects who wrongly answered the recommended maximum number of children and time to conceive after giving birth were 72.3% and 41%, respectively. No significant associations were found between current knowledge and attitude with previous educations on pubertal and premarital health (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION.Knowledge and attitude on pubertal and premarital health in adolescents in Pelaihari, South Borneo need improvement. Previous educations were found to be ineffective. Further studies are needed to investigate the best method to educate adolescents on reproductive health.