Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea school attendance among high school Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its consequences on among high school female adolescent consequences on adolescent students
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2019-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Introduction:Primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology
is the most common gynecological compliant among adolescence and young women. Its adverse
consequence ranges from short term school absenteeism to family and personal disruption.Local
studies especially among younger adolescent students exploring primary dysmenorrhea and its
consequences on school attendance isscares. There for, this study aimed to assess the prevalence
of primary dysmenorrheal and itsconsequences on school attendance.
Method: A Cross-sectional study was conducted from March,7 to 21,2019 amongpublic
secondary school students in Waliso town. Stratified random sampling technique was used to
enroll 340 participants. Data were collected using pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data
was cleaned, coded and entered into Epi info 7 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.
Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was applied to determine factors associated
with primary dysmenorrhea.Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship
between primary dysmenorrhea and school absenteeism.
Results: Primary dysmenorrhea was reported by 247 (75.1%) of the participant. It was mild in
108(43.7%), moderate in 98(39.7%), and severe in 41(16.6%) of the respondents. It was
accompanied by other symptoms like back pain 184 (55.9%), fatigue 159 (43.3%) and headache
63(19. 1%).Out of dysmenorric students 96(38.9%) of them reported consequent absence from
school.Pearson Chi-square test showed statistically significant association between severity of
primary dysmenorrheaand school activities. This was explained by school absence (
X
2
df=2=17.9,
p<0.001), loss of concentration (
X
IX
2
df=2=14.5, p<0.001), lack of focus on exam (X
2
df=2=11.4,
p<0.001) and restriction of physical education. Primary dysmenorrhea was found to have
relatively strong association with irregular menstrual cycle, shorter length of menstrual cycle and
longer menstrual flow days. Only 7(2.8%)of the participants seek medical care.
Conclusion and recommendation: Primary dysmenorrhea was found to becommon problem
among female adolescent students and had consequences on student school attendance and
limited their daily school activities.Comprehensive school education program on menarche and
menstrual problems may help girls to cope better with dysmenorrhea and appropriately seek
medical assistance.
Description
Keywords
Dysmenorrhea, hool female adolescent adolescent students