ADOLESCENTS SELF-EFFICACY IN PREVENTING ABNORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGE: REVIEW OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

Maintaining the cleanliness of the reproductive organs in adolescent girls as a preventive behavior against abnormal vaginal discharge is still a problem in many countries.  It is essential to know the factors of adolescent self-efficacy in preventing abnormal vaginal discharge.  This study aimed to explain the relationship between personality type, social support, and adolescent self-efficacy in preventing abnormal vaginal discharge behavior.  This study used a correlational design with a cross-sectional approach.  The snowball sampling technique was used to select 168 adolescent girls as respondents.  The independent variables were type, personality, and social support.  The dependent variable was self-efficacy of abnormal vaginal discharge prevention behavior.  The data were collected using a questionnaire via Google form and analyzed using the Spearman Rho test with a significance level of <0.05.  The results showed no significant correlation between personality type and abnormal vaginal discharge prevention behavior self-efficacy.  However, adolescents had a significant relationship between social support and abnormal vaginal discharge prevention behavior (p = 0.002, r = 0.238).  Non-specific personality type is related to self-efficacy in preventing abnormal vaginal discharge. Adolescent girls with high social support will increase their self-efficacy in preventing abnormal vaginal discharge behavior.  For further research, it is necessary to identify the psychological and socio-cultural aspects of the adolescent environment against abnormal vaginal discharge and research causes and interventions to prevent and manage abnormal vaginal discharge.