1. Menstrual Pattern And Morbidity Among Nursing Science Students In A Nigerian Tertiary Institution,

Obuna JA, Ogah C,

Int Res Pub Med Sci 2015;1(3):1-6

ABSTRACT

Background:The onset of Menstruation is a landmark event in the pubertal development of an adolescent girl and occurs at an average age of 11-16 years. The onset of menstruation is manifested externally as vaginal bleeding. The mean age of menarche and pattern of menstruation varies from one population to another. Disorders of menstruation remain one of the gynaecological disorders in adolescent girls. Objective: To determine the age of menarche, menstrual patterns and the effect of menstrual morbidity on the academic activities of Nursing Science students in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 students of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki over a-two month period (May 1 to June 30, 2014). A well structured selfadministered questionnaire was distributed to them in sealed envelopes. These were answered in their privacies and returned sealed. Information about the onset of their menarche, pattern of menstruation, menstrual disturbances and how they in?uenced their academic activities were sought for. Results: The respondents' age ranged from 18-39 years, the mean age of menarche in the study is 13.4 years. The majority of the respondents achieved menarche at 13 years (51.1%). The duration of menstrual ?ow averages between 2-8 days with 53.17% having a 4 day menstrual ?ow. The cycle length ranges between 20-40 days while 66.8% had a cycle length of 28 days. About 90% of the respondents menstruated 12 times in a year. Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest menstrual disorder (36.3%). Of these, 12.75% abstained from school one or more times per cycle. About 63% of those who had pain used drugs (mainly non-steroidal anti-in?ammatory drugs, NSAID) to control their pain while over 33% used other means to control their pains including the use of combined oral contraception pills. Conclusion: Age at menarche in this study and gynaecological morbidity resulting from menstruation are comparable to studies done in other parts of Nigeria and some other African countries. Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest cause of short term school absenteeism among the respondents and it was ameliorated with drugs.

Key-words: Menstruation, menarche, morbidity.

[Full Text Article]