DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

School of Nursing

ABSTRACT

LEVEL OF AWARENESS, HYGIENE PRACTICES AND BELIEFS OF

ADOLESCENTS DURING THEIR MENSTRUAL PERIOD, LARMIE JANE P.
AGUSTIN, JULIE B. ANN MONES, JANINA A. ROBINION and SHERYL C.
RUMBAOA, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Divine Word College of Laoag
(Laoag City, Philippines).

MARIA ANGELICA FANDAG, R.N, MAN

Research Adviser
_____________________________________________________________________
This research study identified the level of awareness ,hygiene practices and belief
of adolescents during their menstrual period.
The study investigated the menstrual awareness and hygienic practices of teenager
during their menstrual period within age range 12-16 years old.
The theoretical framework of this research work was based from the Psychosocial
theory of Human Developmental of Erik Erickson and Transcultural Nursing Model of
Madeline Leininger.
The quantitative and qualitative research design was used. The study was conducted
among 315 students in Ilocos Norte National High School which involves students having
menstrual period with an age range of 12-16 yrs old. On the qualitative part of the study,
face to face interview using guide questions and documentation were the primary tools
used in gathering the pertinent data. Transcripts of interview were translated and
analyzed and interpreted using available resources.
A questionnaire was used to gather data for the quantitative part of the research.
The study revealed the respondents students are young adolescence and majority
(45.5%) belongs to 13 years old students, monthly family income with a majority of Php
5100-10000 per month and majority of them are (58.4%) are in urban places. they are
very much aware on the level of awareness of students about menstruation with a

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
School of Nursing

composite mean of 3.89 and the students are always using hygiene practices as shown
by the composite mean of 4.52.

The relationship between the socio-demographic profile and the level of awareness
likewise with the level of awareness and the hygiene practices of the teenagers,
Pearson’s r Correlation was used to analyzed the data. It shows that the socio-
demographic profile (Age) and the level of awareness of the adolescents has a significant
relationship as indicated by the obtained coefficient correlation of -.235** respectively
while on the family income and residence is not correlated to the level of awareness of
the adolescents. On the level of awareness and hygiene practices of the adolescents
shows that there is a significant relationship.

In qualitative research there are (3) three themes they are namely management of
menstrual problems, changes during menstruation and menarche, each themes has its
sub-themes. On the management of menstrual problems there are (2) two sub-themes:
Home remedies and medical consultation. Home remedies concepts are hot compress,
use of liniments, use of camphor, rest and erbaka herbal drinks while on the concept of
medical consultation are taking medication and check up. The other theme that has sub-
theme is the changes during menstruation, it has (2) two sub theme namely physical
changes and psychological changes. Physical changes’ concept are the weight gain and
pimples while psychological changes’ concept are mood swings and food cravings. On
the theme menarche, the sub-theme of it is namely beliefs with a concepts of jumping off
the third level of stairs, washing face with blood of first menstrual flow and prone position
to relieve menstrual pain.

In the light of the foregoing findings, the researchers drew the following conclusions:
Students are very much aware about menstruation. They give this subject much attention
due to the nature of menstruation as a routine, always occurring and always be
accompanied with the physical and psychological symptoms within the natural process.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
School of Nursing

The health practices regarding menstruation of the students show the they are still doing
the beliefs that taught by their mother and grandmother.

In the considerate of the findings and conclusion arrived at, the following
recommendation are offered that teenagers should read books or articles regarding
menstruation for them to expand their awareness about menstruation. The teachers can
play an influential role in informing the student about changes during adolescence,
especially about menstruation and other related issues. Second to the last is a follow up
study will be conducted on the same topic to ensure the validity and credibility of the
results. Lastly, future researchers are suggested to conduct exploratory studies to better
understand beliefs and norms about menstruation, use and preference of absorbents and
issues related to discomfort at school and a better way to capture the awareness of the
students about menstruation and must include religion on the socio-demographic profile
for the future study.

Keywords: menstruation, hygiene practices,awareness, teenagers