Knowledge and Personal Hygiene Practices during Menstruation among Adolescent Girls: A Study at Private High School in Bandung

Abstract

Women with poor personal hygiene behaviors tend to perceive genital cleanliness as unimportant. This condition may lead to reproductive health problems. This study adopting a cross-sectional research design, using a valid and reliable questionnaire. The number of respondents was 60 students in grade 3, only for female students at Private Senior High Schools in Bandung city. This research method used an analytic descriptive design, using a cross-sectional design which is a research design by measuring or observing at the same time between the risk factors or exposure of the independent variable and the effect or dependent variable. Sample was drawn from 625 total population as many as 60 students who had menstruation experienced. The results show that as many as 71.1% students had good knowledge about personal hygiene, and 66.7% had good behavior. There is significant relationship between knowledge and behavior in maintaining female genital. The higher the level of knowledge, the better the students’ behavior in practicing personal hygiene, particularly regarding female genital organs.  The recommendation for the school, based on this study, is to provide guidance and education on personal hygiene of the genital organs during menstruation. Education for students can be delivered through educational videos, simulations, or by university students based on the findings of this research.