Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study
Senait Belay Getahun,1,* Semarya Berhe,2,* Bazie Mekonnen,2,* Getnet Melaku1,* 1Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia; 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, A...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/reasons-for-not-seeking-healthcare-among-students-with-dysmenorrhea-a--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
| _version_ | 1797629850062684160 |
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| author | Getahun SB Berhe S Mekonnen B Melaku G |
| author_facet | Getahun SB Berhe S Mekonnen B Melaku G |
| author_sort | Getahun SB |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Senait Belay Getahun,1,* Semarya Berhe,2,* Bazie Mekonnen,2,* Getnet Melaku1,* 1Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia; 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Senait Belay Getahun, Dilla University, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, P.O Box: 419, Dilla, Ethiopia, Tel +251914457474, Email seni1203b@gmail.comBackground: Dysmenorrhea is a significant health burden for women and a global public health issue. Despite its notable prevalence and impact, dysmenorrhea is mostly poorly identified, treated, and accepted as normal by patients themselves. To create strategies that enable care seeking and ideal symptom management for dysmenorrhea, it is vital to have a better understanding of the reasons why women do not seek medical attention. This study aimed to explore the reasons for not seeking healthcare among students with dysmenorrhea at Dilla University in 2023.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with purposively selected Colleges of Dilla University students with dysmenorrhea. An individual in-depth interview with a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from March 1– 30/2023. Snowball sampling was used to obtain study participants, and sampling was determined based on the level of data saturation. The interviews were conducted in a separate private room at Dilla University. Data analysis was started simultaneously with data collection and thematic analysis was performed. ATLAS. ti 9 qualitative software was used to support the data analysis and management.Results: The study enrolled 20 students with dysmenorrhea, with a mean age of 21.55 years and a mean age of menarche of 14.45 years. It explored three themes for reasons for not seeking healthcare: sociocultural and personal factors, healthcare system-related perceptions and experiences, and preference for self-management of symptoms. The study also reported myths and misconceptions, negative attitudes and experiences, and self-care practices as barriers to accessing and utilizing health care services.Conclusion: This study identified various reasons for not seeking healthcare among students with dysmenorrhea. Most of these reasons indicate that there is insufficient awareness and misconception of dysmenorrhea and its management. Therefore, this study advances the literature on dysmenorrhea and emphasizes the need for more awareness, education, and quality healthcare services for students with dysmenorrhea. The study also proposes future research directions to address the problem of dysmenorrhea among female students in Ethiopia.Keywords: reason, dysmenorrhea, healthcare seeking, female students |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:59:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5da5b316bce4a679785b8f87755afa0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1411 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:59:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5da5b316bce4a679785b8f87755afa02023-11-12T18:07:01ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112023-11-01Volume 151733174488103Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative StudyGetahun SBBerhe SMekonnen BMelaku GSenait Belay Getahun,1,* Semarya Berhe,2,* Bazie Mekonnen,2,* Getnet Melaku1,* 1Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia; 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Senait Belay Getahun, Dilla University, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, P.O Box: 419, Dilla, Ethiopia, Tel +251914457474, Email seni1203b@gmail.comBackground: Dysmenorrhea is a significant health burden for women and a global public health issue. Despite its notable prevalence and impact, dysmenorrhea is mostly poorly identified, treated, and accepted as normal by patients themselves. To create strategies that enable care seeking and ideal symptom management for dysmenorrhea, it is vital to have a better understanding of the reasons why women do not seek medical attention. This study aimed to explore the reasons for not seeking healthcare among students with dysmenorrhea at Dilla University in 2023.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with purposively selected Colleges of Dilla University students with dysmenorrhea. An individual in-depth interview with a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from March 1– 30/2023. Snowball sampling was used to obtain study participants, and sampling was determined based on the level of data saturation. The interviews were conducted in a separate private room at Dilla University. Data analysis was started simultaneously with data collection and thematic analysis was performed. ATLAS. ti 9 qualitative software was used to support the data analysis and management.Results: The study enrolled 20 students with dysmenorrhea, with a mean age of 21.55 years and a mean age of menarche of 14.45 years. It explored three themes for reasons for not seeking healthcare: sociocultural and personal factors, healthcare system-related perceptions and experiences, and preference for self-management of symptoms. The study also reported myths and misconceptions, negative attitudes and experiences, and self-care practices as barriers to accessing and utilizing health care services.Conclusion: This study identified various reasons for not seeking healthcare among students with dysmenorrhea. Most of these reasons indicate that there is insufficient awareness and misconception of dysmenorrhea and its management. Therefore, this study advances the literature on dysmenorrhea and emphasizes the need for more awareness, education, and quality healthcare services for students with dysmenorrhea. The study also proposes future research directions to address the problem of dysmenorrhea among female students in Ethiopia.Keywords: reason, dysmenorrhea, healthcare seeking, female studentshttps://www.dovepress.com/reasons-for-not-seeking-healthcare-among-students-with-dysmenorrhea-a--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWHreasondysmenorrheahealthcare seekingfemale students |
| spellingShingle | Getahun SB Berhe S Mekonnen B Melaku G Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study International Journal of Women's Health reason dysmenorrhea healthcare seeking female students |
| title | Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full | Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study |
| title_fullStr | Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study |
| title_short | Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study |
| title_sort | reasons for not seeking healthcare among students with dysmenorrhea a qualitative study |
| topic | reason dysmenorrhea healthcare seeking female students |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/reasons-for-not-seeking-healthcare-among-students-with-dysmenorrhea-a--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
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