Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students
Background: Dysmenorrhea remains one of the common gynaecological conditions among women of reproductive age. With varying severity, it can be associated with morbidities that affect the quality of life. Among students, dysmenorrhea leads to school absenteeism which may ultimately affect school perf...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, OOUTH Sagamu
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Annals of Health Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.annalsofhealthresearch.com/index.php/ahr/article/view/319 |
| _version_ | 1818205864240087040 |
|---|---|
| author | Ezebialu IU Ezenyeakuu CC Umeobika JC |
| author_facet | Ezebialu IU Ezenyeakuu CC Umeobika JC |
| author_sort | Ezebialu IU |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Dysmenorrhea remains one of the common gynaecological conditions among women of reproductive age. With varying severity, it can be associated with morbidities that affect the quality of life. Among students, dysmenorrhea leads to school absenteeism which may ultimately affect school performance.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among undergraduates as well as the incidence of school absenteeism in women with dysmenorrhea.
Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of 583 female university students was done using the multistage sampling method.
Results: Four hundred and twenty-four respondents out of 516 had experienced dysmenorrhea giving a prevalence of 82.2%. On a visual analogue scale, 8.5% reported mild pain, 59.7% moderate and 31.8% severe. Two hundred and thirty-six (55.7%) could not carry out their routine chores because of the pain while 181 (42.7%) had been absent from school because of painful menses. School absenteeism was significantly associated with severe pain.
Conclusion: This study has identified that dysmenorrhea is common among undergraduates. It is also associated with school absenteeism, especially in those that reported severe pain. Therefore, it has the potential to affect the academic performance of the affected students. It is recommended that university managements should provide basic care for dysmenorrheic students to improve their school attendance and ultimate performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:03:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-602c511fe85247eaac28268830b19ea9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2476-8642 2536-6149 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:03:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, OOUTH Sagamu |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Health Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-602c511fe85247eaac28268830b19ea92022-12-22T00:38:50ZengMedical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, OOUTH SagamuAnnals of Health Research2476-86422536-61492021-03-0171596610.30442/ahr.0701-07-116Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate StudentsEzebialu IUEzenyeakuu CCUmeobika JCBackground: Dysmenorrhea remains one of the common gynaecological conditions among women of reproductive age. With varying severity, it can be associated with morbidities that affect the quality of life. Among students, dysmenorrhea leads to school absenteeism which may ultimately affect school performance. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among undergraduates as well as the incidence of school absenteeism in women with dysmenorrhea. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of 583 female university students was done using the multistage sampling method. Results: Four hundred and twenty-four respondents out of 516 had experienced dysmenorrhea giving a prevalence of 82.2%. On a visual analogue scale, 8.5% reported mild pain, 59.7% moderate and 31.8% severe. Two hundred and thirty-six (55.7%) could not carry out their routine chores because of the pain while 181 (42.7%) had been absent from school because of painful menses. School absenteeism was significantly associated with severe pain. Conclusion: This study has identified that dysmenorrhea is common among undergraduates. It is also associated with school absenteeism, especially in those that reported severe pain. Therefore, it has the potential to affect the academic performance of the affected students. It is recommended that university managements should provide basic care for dysmenorrheic students to improve their school attendance and ultimate performance.https://www.annalsofhealthresearch.com/index.php/ahr/article/view/319dysmenorrheamenstrual painmenstruationschool absenteeismundergraduates |
| spellingShingle | Ezebialu IU Ezenyeakuu CC Umeobika JC Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students Annals of Health Research dysmenorrhea menstrual pain menstruation school absenteeism undergraduates |
| title | Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students |
| title_full | Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students |
| title_short | Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Contribution to School Absenteeism Among Nigerian Undergraduate Students |
| title_sort | prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its contribution to school absenteeism among nigerian undergraduate students |
| topic | dysmenorrhea menstrual pain menstruation school absenteeism undergraduates |
| url | https://www.annalsofhealthresearch.com/index.php/ahr/article/view/319 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ezebialuiu prevalenceofdysmenorrheaanditscontributiontoschoolabsenteeismamongnigerianundergraduatestudents AT ezenyeakuucc prevalenceofdysmenorrheaanditscontributiontoschoolabsenteeismamongnigerianundergraduatestudents AT umeobikajc prevalenceofdysmenorrheaanditscontributiontoschoolabsenteeismamongnigerianundergraduatestudents |