QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY ON MENSTRUAL PATTERNS AMONG FEMALE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF RURAL NORTH INDIA

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QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY ON MENSTRUAL PATTERNS AMONG FEMALE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF RURAL NORTH INDIA

Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2019, Vol 8, Issue 15

Abstract

BACKGROUND Menstruation is unique phenomenon in girls. However, even in today’s time in India, it is associated with many taboos and myths that affect many socio-cultural and economic aspects of life and is a hindrance in the overall development of a girl to women and becoming empowered. Besides the taboos, there are menstrual problems which a girl has to suffer. A woman’s reproductive health is determined by her menstrual health. The prevalence of menstrual disorders is highest in the 20 to 24-year-old age group and decreases progressively thereafter. They affect not only the woman, but also family, social, and national economics as well. Even girls from good socioeconomic background and education are unable to dispel the taboos and are unable to discuss their menstrual issues and problems due to lack of menstrual education. Information on a woman’s menstrual pattern will aid in clinical evaluation of gynaecological problems and will make womanhood easier for adolescent women and adults1. However, studies on menstrual pattern, menstrual disorders, associated factors and taboos affecting the girls of medical students of university of rural North India are very few. We wanted to determine the menstrual pattern, menstrual disorders, information regarding menstruation and taboos associated with menstruation among female medical students of university of rural North India. METHODS A self-descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among female medical students between the ages 17-22 years. A total of 235 questionnaires was administered to postmenarcheal Indian adolescent girls attending medical college in SGT University, Gurugram, and Haryana India. Participants were asked to respond to a semi-structured questionnaire on menstrual health awareness. The questionnaire included questions on age at menarche, menstrual cycle length and regularity, duration, and amount of flow, type and severity of pain related to menstruation, need for analgesia, and symptoms suggestive of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and impact of menstrual pain on academic and social activities and taboos associated with menstruation. The main outcome measure was information regarding menarche, description of menstrual patterns, disorders and impact of the disorder on academic and social activities and taboos regarding menstruation. RESULTS Out of the 235 questionnaires distributed, 200 were retrieved and the information contained in each questionnaire was analysed. The mean age of menarche was 12.59 ± 1.25 years with a range of 10 to 16 years. The mean age of girls was 19.45 ± 2.5 years. Mean duration of menstrual flow was 4.77 ± 1.06 days. It was observed that 146 (72%) respondents had regular length of menstrual cycle whereas 54 (28%) respondents had irregular menstrual cycle, which showed its peak at the age group of 17-19 yrs.(33.3%) between age groups. Of the 146 students with regular menstrual cycle, 88 (60.27%) had average flow while in 40 (27.39%) had scanty, and 18 (12.32%) had heavy menstrual cycle. Of the 54 students who had irregular cycle, prolonged cycles were reported by 42 (77.77%) students, and frequent cycles were reported by 12 (22.22%) students. Dysmenorrhoea was reported in 140 (70%) respondents. Of these, 70 (50%) had mild, 48 (34.28%) had moderate and 22 (15.72%) had severe pain. Premenstrual syndrome was mentioned by 64 (32%) girls. 65 (53.27%) of the dysmenorrheic girls reported that their working ability was affected. 130 (65%) of the girls were aware of menstruation prior to menarche. Mothers, sisters and friends were the main sources of information 148 (74%). 29% missed social activities, and 12.5% missed college, due to menstrual problems. 110 (55%) needed drugs to treat menstrual disorders. 82.5% girls had misconceptions and taboos related to menstruation. CONCLUSIONS Mean age at menarche is in sync with global trend with gradual fall in the age of menarche. There is high prevalence of dysmenorrhoea, PMS, and abnormal menstrual length which requires attention and treatment. These disorders are affecting the working ability, lead to college absenteeism and social withdrawal. Also, even though they are medical students,they still have taboos related to menstruation, which they believe in, and consider many menstrual disorders as normal and are hesitant to come out and discuss with the physician. They are mostly either bearing the problem, or self-medicating. There are many menstrual taboos which are affecting their socio-cultural and economic aspects. Increasing the awareness through educational programs at early age will definitely help the girl in developing confidence and increases self-esteem.

Authors and Affiliations

Bindoo Yadav, Poonam Taneja

EP ID EP557370
DOI 10.14260/jemds/2019/273
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