Publication:

Dysmenorrhea among students in Yaounde, Cameroon: associated factors and socio-cultural aspects

Background Dysmenorrhea is very common disorder. It affects the quality of life and is the main cause of school absenteeism’s among teenagers. The goal of this study was to determine socio-cultural aspects of dysmenorrhea among students in Yaounde and factors associated with it.

Methods Authors carried out a cross sectional analytic study in 2 secondary schools and a higher institute in Yaounde, from December 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 (7 months). Authors included all students aged at least 15, in form 5 and above. In the higher institute, sampling was consecutive, while it was stratified into 2 clusters in the secondary schools.  Odds ratios were determined to assess association between variables and P-value ˂0.05 was considered significant.

Results Of the 1059 participants, 800 had dysmenorrhea (prevalence: 75.5%). Mean age was 18.88±3.62 years (range: 15-45 years). Family history of dysmenorrhea (OR: 4.20 (95% CI: 3.02-5.83)) and stress ((OR: 2.16 (95% CI: 1.55 - 3.02)) were significantly associated with dysmenorrhea. A duration of menses ≤3 days was protective ((OR: 0.31 (95% CI: 0.12-0.82)). Dysmenorrhea remains a taboo for 23.6% of participants.

Conclusions Family history of dysmenorrhea and stress are risk factors for dysmenorrhea which remains a taboo for almost a fourth of affected women. Authors recommend educating women about dysmenorrhea and control psycho-social stress.