Prevalence of, and Risk Factors for Dysmenorrhea among Female Medical Students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: This study investigates the prevalence and factors associated with dysmenorrhea among medical students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female medical students that were regularly menstruating. A structured questionnaire validated by expert independent observers was used for data collection. Information collected included socio-demographic characteristics, pattern of menstruation including dysmenorrhea, and related reproductive health explanatory variables. The association between dysmenorrhea and selected explanatory variables status was assessed with the chi-square test. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to examine the significant factors that affect the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. Results: In total, 171 female medical students participated. Majority 163 (96.45%) of participants reported have had lower abdomen pain during menstruation. There was a statistically significant difference in the average monthly allowance between participants with and without a history of dysmenorrhea (p<.001). A higher percentage of participants 99 (61.88%) with a history of dysmenorrhea stated that a family member had experienced cyclical pain. Participants who were unsatisfied with their relationship with their parents had 1.04 (95% CI 1.01 - 1.08) times more likely to experience dysmenorrhea than participants who felt satisfied with their parents. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea amongst medical students with those having an increased average monthly allowance and feeling satisfied with their parents at a decreased risk.