PERSONAL HYGIENE DURING MENSTRUATION IN FEMALE TEENEGERS AT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS 34 PADANG WEST OF SUMATERA INDONESIA

Abstract

Menstruation is the natural monthly occurrence in healthy adolescent girls with the onset occurring
anytime between the ages of 8 to 16 years old until pre-menopausal adult women, resulting in about
3000 days of a menstruation in an average woman’s lifetime. The neglect of menstruation and its
implications for the dignity, health and safety of women is increasingly well documented. The current
understanding is that menstruation causes girls to be absent from school, and that continued absence
leads to dropout and attrition. The main objective of this study was therefore to focus on describe the
reproductive personal hygiene upon menstrual period in female teenagers. The research design is
descriptive with population female teenagers who has menstrual periods from class VII and VIII of
Junior High School 34 Padang. The sample size was aimed at 175 respondents. Questionnaire was
given all respondents and then analyze with distribution frequencies. The results shown that 93%
respondents using sanitary pads. 69,1% respondents buy pad and 78,9% respondents dispose of pads.
77,1 % respondents using pads more than six hours. 57,1% respondents not have good vulva hygiene
during menstruation. As a result of this study, we propose additional recommendations, including
increasing facility for female students to get information about menstrual hygiene management.
Menstruation should be taught and discussed with girls at an earlier age, prior to reaching menarche.