Integration of Local Wisdom in Population Preparedness Education: A Legal and Policy Analysis at DPPKBP3A Cirebon District

Abstract

Population Alert Education (PSK) is a strategic instrument for improving demographic literacy and reproductive health, but its effectiveness depends on its alignment with the local socio-cultural context. This study evaluates the integration of local wisdom in the PSK program in Cirebon Regency and the alignment of its implementation with the population law framework. Using a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design, the study combined regulatory analysis, observations of nine culture-based PSK sessions, in-depth interviews with 31 key informants, and a pre-post survey of 120 participants. The results indicate that cultural integration through the values of tata titi krama (traditional customs), deliberation (musyawarah), narratives of the Cirebon Palace, and the role of traditional leaders and religious scholars (ulama) significantly contributed to increased participant literacy: family planning knowledge (+34 percentage points), understanding of the risks of early marriage (+37), and readiness to discuss KRR (+34), all significant (p < 0.01). The cultural approach also increased acceptance, reduced resistance, and strengthened the program's social legitimacy. However, this integration is not supported by an adequate normative basis in regional policies, leaving it dependent on the initiatives of extension workers and informal networks, leading to variations across regions. This research proposes a "Culturally Embedded Demographic Education Framework" model and recommends strengthening regulations, developing official culture-based modules, and ethnopedagogical training for extension workers. These findings enrich the literature on culture-based population education and provide policy direction that can be replicated in similar regions.