Overview Of Knowledge And Actions of "Politeknik Baubau" Students Against Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea) And How To Deal With It

Abstract

Adolescence is a transitional phase that begins from childhood to adulthood, with a biological age range of 10 to 19 years. One of the significant events experienced by adolescent girls is their first menstruation, which usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 16. Menstruation is characterized by the release of blood and body cells through the walls of a woman's uterus periodically. Many women experience discomfort or intense pain during menstruation, known as dysmenorrhea. Menstrual pain is experienced by more than 50% of women in various countries. In America, around 60% of women experience it, while in Sweden the figure reaches 72%. Dysmenorrhea is a common disorder experienced by women during menstruation, including pain, cramps, and back pain. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge and actions of Baubau Polytechnic female students regarding menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). There are two treatment methods that can be used to overcome menstrual pain: first, treatment with pain relievers (analgesics) and second, non-medical therapy. The study was conducted in June 2024 involving 68 randomly selected respondents. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method, with data collection through questionnaires whose results are presented in tabular form. Based on data from the first questionnaire, the level of knowledge of Baubau Polytechnic students about dysmenorrhea is considered good, which is 85.44%. However, the actions taken by students in dealing with dysmenorrhea are considered inadequate, with a percentage of 56.74%.