A STUDY TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIOUS FACTORS WITH MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITY AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN BHOPAL DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Menstruation is a normal physiological process and irregular menstrual pattern is a problem that affects routine life of women in the reproductive age group. There are so many factors may contribute to the irregularity in menstrual cycles. This study was conducted with the purpose to establish relationship between various factors with menstrual irregularity among women. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study, conducted in the rural health and training center associated to L. N. Medical College, Bhopal between August 2020 to October 2020 by using a convenience sampling method. The data was collected from 220 women in the reproductive age group and analyzed to nd out the relationship between the BMI and menstrual irregularity. RESULTS:The mean age of the study participants was 30.64 (±8.32) years and their mean age at menarche was 12.28 (±1.86) years. Majority of the study participants belongs to lower middle class (25%), Hindus (84.54%) by religion, married (82.20%), homemakers (53.64%) belong to nuclear family (45%) having education up to high school level (61%). Only 44.17% of the participants have their BMI within normal range and 07.97% are obese. Irregular menstrual pattern was present in 18% of the study participants. The association between the BMI and the irregular menstrual pattern was found to be signicant with a p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: A signicant association between the BMI and the irregular menstrual pattern highlights the importance of adapting simple and effective lifestyle and behavioral modications in the reduction of excess weight thereby leading to healthy reproductive life among women.