B.PK.UiTM.FPR.(O).

10/02

Faculty of Medicine
Universiti Teknologi MARA

FORMAT OF ELECTIVE PROPOSAL 2022/ 2023

Group No : 8

Title : Promoting Health Awareness among Upper Primary School Students in The
Selangor Suburban Area Centring on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH)

Category : A - Related to medical / health care support or delivery system

Elective centre: SK Sri Langat

Name & matric number of Proposers:

Name Matric number

ZARIF IRFAN BIN SAIFUL NIZAM 2021887792

(Group Leader)

NUR AMALINNA SABRIENA BINTI 2021899144

ABDUL MUTALIB

DAYANG NOR HAJIRA BINTI MUDA 2021600492

AINI NAZIRAH BINTI HISHAM 2021609724

Contact number and email address of group leader:

➢ 2021887792@student.uitm.edu.my
➢ 018-3247077

Name of Faculty Supervisor(s):

1. Main: Col Dr Amir Muhriz Abdul Latiff (rtd)

2. Co-supervisor: Nil

Name of External Supervisor (if any): Dr Aisha Mohd Din - Faculty of Health Sciences
UiTM
INTRODUCTION:
A child's cornerstone of growth and development is good health. Children's right to good health is
crucial since they are susceptible to illness and health issues. (Convention on The Rights of The Child,
1989) The Sustainable Development Goals define a global shift from treating diseases to building health
systems so that all children and women of reproductive age receive affordable, excellent health care.
When children are protected from illness, they grow up to be healthy people in the community and
contribute to creating a vibrant and flourishing civilisation. According to WHO (2019), children from
urban and rural areas are developing illnesses at a higher rate, which is connected to unhealthy settings.

Nonetheless, in recent years, Malaysia has achieved considerable progress in eradicating diseases,
safeguarding children from harm, and enrolling more boys and girls in school. However, some children
are still abandoned and are helpless and vulnerable. Some came from families that were trapped in
poverty. These underprivileged kids struggle with concerns of accessibility, especially in terms of
healthcare and inclusion. This disparity in the community highlights the need for health awareness and
intervention among young children.

In our study, we will address some common health issues among adolescents, including proper
menstruation health, preventing the transmission of diseases via the most important infection control
measure - hand hygiene and common infections that occur among primary school children.

Hormonal changes in puberty begin with breast development, followed by menstruation. Menstruation
is a monthly physiological process causing the uterus to shed its lining as bloody vaginal discharge.
Puberty involves cognitive, psychological, and physical changes. For females, menarche is a significant
moment of adolescence.
Nonetheless, early adolescents may be anxious about this shift from childhood to maturity.

In some cultures, menstruation is shrouded in taboos and beliefs that marginalise women in society.
Many cultures have beliefs and myths prohibiting women from daily activities and sanitary health
practices, resulting in illness. Studies found that many girls misunderstood menstruation's physiological
changes. Mothers and aunties, social media, friends, and teachers provided most of the information,
which may be misleading. Misinformation may result in a misconception that can affect girls and
women's mental health, lifestyle, and health. Research has shown the vital role of cultural background
in menstruation. It can be said that demographics affect women's menstrual knowledge, thoughts and
actions.

Nevertheless, doctors are the primary contact for their community's regular menstruation difficulties
and other morbidities. Many studies have shown that menstruation could influence regenerative health.
For instance, not showering after menstruation might cause recurrent tract infections in young women.
This naivety highlights how Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is a public health issue with limited
evidence to support interventions. According to the first Kotex Period Poverty and Stigma ( year?)
research results, more than one in two girls said they wanted to skip school during their periods. Girls
who miss school because of their periods risk falling behind. Consequently, their parents will doubt the
worth of sending their children to school. This pilot study will be conducted in a primary school in the
suburban area of Selangor, targeting lower and upper primary school students.

Shrestha and Angolkar (2015) stated that UNICEF's WASH programme promotes hand cleanliness to
prevent diarrhoea and respiratory illnesses. Handwashing can save millions of lives and prevents
unnecessary morbidity. The recent covid-19 pandemic is proof that simple hygiene care can prevent
infection. Children's handwashing habits change following school health education, but the viability of
educational initiatives needs to be clarified. Poor handwashing and hygienic care could make school a
health hazard. Therefore a proper intervention is needed. However, Malaysian research data on
handwashing is left wanting. Moreover, health education is needed continuously to promote
handwashing awareness and practice.

Developing excellent personal hygiene habits that guard against infection is a crucial part of the control
and elimination efforts for soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs), which are significant sources of
morbidity among school-age children in the tropics (Lim & Chua, 2016). Hence, bringing forth the need
to educate younger children on appropriate prevention techniques. All in all, it is undeniable that good
health education benefits children's future. Not just that, these school children can also educate their
peers, parents, and siblings about proper healthcare management, becoming change agents.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess primary school girls' menstrual knowledge and preparedness.
a. To tackle misconceptions and myths regarding menstruation.
b. To instil good hygienic techniques to prevent opportunistic infections in
menstruation.
2. To assess primary school children's knowledge of proper hand hygiene techniques.
a. To educate the children on proper handwashing techniques and ways to prevent
various common parasitic infections among school children.

METHODOLOGY:
A cross-sectional study and awareness program will be conducted by the MBBS Batch-22/23, Year 2,
Group 8 students of UiTM Sungai Buloh University on a group of students at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri
Langat, a primary school located in the suburban area of Banting, Selangor. This program aims to
evaluate the level of awareness among the students and provide them with early exposure to proper
menstrual knowledge, including good hygiene techniques, and to help educate them on some common
infections they can contract.

Before the program is carried out, a survey will be done to sample fifty students from 11-12 years old.
A structured questionnaire will be written in Bahasa Melayu, and English will be given to the
respondents for better understanding. The response to the questionnaire will be in the form of multiple-
choice questions regarding the students' perceptions of menstrual and general hygiene knowledge.
Other than that, an observation will be performed on the students' habits and behaviour at the canteen.
This method can determine whether the students practice the correct technique to wash their hands
before and after eating. The data will be taken in the form of note-taking.

One hundred fifty students will participate in the health awareness program focusing on menstrual
bleeding and good hygiene practices during the program. The participants will be separated into three
groups where they will participate in different activities depending on the stations assigned to them.
The first station's objective is to provide knowledge on preparing for one's period and handling
misconceptions regarding menstruation. For the second station, the students will be taught about
menstrual management, such as the proper disposal method of sanitary pads. This station will also
expose the students to the appropriate handwashing etiquette. The third and final station will focus on
some common parasitic infections among school children and how to prevent them. After a session,
each group will move to another station to participate in a different activity.

At the end of every session, interactive quizzes and games are prepared to evaluate the level of
knowledge and understanding of each objective of the stations. The results are going to be observed
and recorded as data.

EXPENDITURE:

Materials Amount (RM)

Educational tools: 150

- Pocket hand sanitisers (x75)
- Sanitary pads/kit (5)
Setting up for the activity day:
- Manila card
- Decorative items

Quiz/games setup 50

Souvenirs/gifts 100

Accommodation/travel fare 100

TOTAL 400

Weekly schedule Planned activities

Week 1 - Preparation
- Research, reading and study about related information.
- Prepare slides to brief the headmaster.
- Conduct survey by giving structured questionnaire to a
sample of 50 students.
- Observe students’ habits and behaviour on their
technique to wash hands

Week 2 - Carry out different activities according to the stations.

- Observe students and evaluate their level of knowledge
and understanding of each objective of the stations.
- Post-mortem

Week 3 - Analyse data and results

- Report writing

Week 4 - Consult supervisor.

- Report submission
REFERENCES:
Fernandez, K., Kharkwal, K. C., Afrose, T., Habib, N., & Das, S. (2019). Individual’s
awareness of healthy lifestyle: A cross sectional study of a rural community in
Kedah, Malaysia. Journal of Biomedical Sciences, 6(2), 12–18.
https://doi.org/10.3126/jbs.v6i2.26812

Jarrah, S. S., & Kamel, A. A. (2012). Attitudes and practices of school‐aged girls
towards menstruation. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(3), 308-315.

Lim, L. A., & Chua, T. H. (2016). Worm Infection among Children in Malaysia. Borneo
Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS).

Raut, K. B., Agrawal Khatry, R., & Shrestha, T. (2019). Awareness regarding
Menstrual Hygiene among Girl Students of a School in Chitwan. Journal of Nepal
Medical Association, 57(220). https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.4760

Shrestha, A., & Angolkar, M. (2015). Improving hand washing among school children:
an educational intervention in South India. Al Ameen J Med Sci, 8(01), 81-5.

Questionnaires:

Hennegan, J., Nansubuga, A., Akullo, A., Smith, C., & Schwab, K.J., (2020). The Menstrual
Practices Questionnaire (MPQ): Development, elaboration, and implications for future
research. Global Health Action, 13(1), 1829402.
https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1829402

Munthir M. Almoslem, Talal A. Alshehri, Arwa A. Althumairi, Mohammed T. Aljassim,

Mohamed E. Hassan, Mahmoud M. Berekaa, "Handwashing Knowledge, Attitudes, and
Practices among Students in Eastern Province Schools, Saudi Arabia", Journal of
Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2021, Article ID 6638443, 10 pages, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6638443

This proposal has been checked:

Faculty Supervisor’s signature