Menstrual Pattern and Disorders and Impact on Quality of Life Among University Students in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Menarche is one of the signals of a woman’s transition from childhood to adulthood. Abnormal menstrual pattern could cause morbidities that may disrupt daily activities. Aim: To assess the pattern of menstrual disorders and impact on the quality of life among university students in South-Western Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 494 university students in South-Western Nigeria, selected using multistage sampling method. Research instruments were semi-structured, self-administered, and pretested questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Mean age at menarche was 13.6 (1.1) years. About 89.1% (440/494) were aware or foretold of the coming of menarche. Major sources of information include parents, relatives, friends, and health care workers. About 82.8% (409/494) had regular monthly menstrual flow pattern, 21.9% (108/494) had menorrhagia, 16.0% (79/494) had oligomenorrhea, 9.1% (45/494) had polymenorrhea, while 65.8% (325/494) had occasional associated dysmenorrhea. About 10.7% (53/494) had treated dysmenorrhea in a health facility in the last 1 year. Menstruation usually puts tension on 46.2% (228/494) of respondents, disrupted work at school in 38.9% (192/494), and at home among 42.9% (212/494) of them, while it had prevented going to school for at least 1 day in the last 6 months among 15.6% (77/494) of respondents. Girls with irregular menstrual pattern were 1.4, 1.8, and 1.6 times more likely to have experienced pressure or lenition on them, had school work, and home work disrupted, respectively. Girls who were precounseled about menarche were twice less likely to have had disruptions of school activities compared to those who were not precounseled (odds ratio = 0.5, 05% confidence interval: 1.96–3.01, P = 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that menstrual disorders constitute a challenge to a significant percentage of adolescents. This also underscores the need for guided sexuality and menstrual related information targeted at youths.

KEY WORDS: Menstruation, menarche, menstrual disorders, university students