Effectiveness of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) Aromatherapy on the Intensity of Dysmenorrhea in Student of Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Kupang

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual cramp that in general occurs in adolescents. In Indonesia the figure of dysmenorrhea is estimated at 64.25%. Students who experience dysmenorrhea will greatly disrupt learning activities and absence on campus. Lavender and jasmine aromatherapy has benefits for reducing dysmenorrhea because it contains linanool. One of the methods to decrease the dysmenorrhea is namely lavender aromatherapy and jasmine aromatherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine differences of the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy and jasmine aromatherapy towards the intensity of dysmenorrhea. Subjects and Method: This was a a quasiexperiment without control group. The study was conducted at the Postgraduate Clinic of Universitas Nusa Cendana, from March to April 2020. The study population was the students of the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Nusa Cendana year 2019. A sample of 40 students was selected by purposive sampling. The dependent variable was dysmenorrhea. The independent va-riables were lavender and jasmine aromatherapy. Dysmenorrhea was measured by Numerical Pain Rating Scale. The data were analyzed by t test. Results: After receiving lavender and jasmine aromatherapy, intensity of dysmenorrhea in lavender aromatherapy (Mean=19,50 ; SD=0,48 ) was lower than jasmine aromatherapy (Mean=-21.50 ; SD=0.51 ), but it was statistically non-significant (p= 0.524). Conclusion:Lavender and jasmine aromatherapy have similarly effect in intensity of dysmenorrhea.