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

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.