Prevalence, Perception And Management Practices Of Dysmenorrhea Among Students Of Delta State University, Abraka, South-South Nigeria

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynaecological disorder among women of reproductive age worldwide. Undergraduate students may be particularly affected, as dysmenorrhea may negatively affect academic engagement and quality of life. This study assessed the prevalence and management of dysmenorrhea among DELSU undergraduates, and explored its self-reported association with examination stress and academic performance.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was conducted among 400 female undergraduate students recruited from all faculties of DELSU using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and summarised using frequency/percentage distribution and Spearman rho to determine association with academic performance. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: The prevalence rate of dysmenorrhea was 78.9%. Onset occurred at menarche in 53.6%, and 54.9% reported a family history. Lower abdomen was the commonest pain site (67.2%). Common associated symptoms were headache (30.1%), loss of appetite (19.8%), and vomiting (13.5%). Rest (40.9%) and drug use (22.6%) were the main management approaches, with piroxicam and paracetamol mostly used; 72.6% of drug users self-medicated. No significant correlation was found between dysmenorrhea and examination stress (r=-0.013, p=0.804) or self-reported academic performance (r=-0.061, p=0.254).

Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among DELSU undergraduates, and management remains largely non-pharmacological or informal, with substantial self-medication. No significant correlation was found between dysmenorrhea and self-reported examination stress or academic performance in this sample, although a considerable proportion of respondents reported dysmenorrhea-related absenteeism and reading difficulty.