Behaviors and Attitudes towards Dysmenorrhea : A Crosssectional Survey of 2,000 Jordanian University Students

Abstract

Background and Aims: Dysmenorrhea is a very common gynecologic condition encountered by women. The majority of women suffering from dysmenorrhea self-medicate with over the counter medications, which might be inadequate or not very effective. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, the factors significantly associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, the attitudes and behaviors towards dysmenorrhea among Jordanian female students, and the pharmacist's role in the management of dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: A total of 2,000 female university students in seven public universities were randomly approached and anonymously surveyed by our research team using a validated structured questionnaire technique. Responses were coded and entered into a customized database in SPSS, version 17, for statistical analysis. Results: Two thousand female university students took part in this survey. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea among the study group was 90.1% (50.5% had pain during each menstruation while 39.6% had pain during some menstruations). Participants were statistically more likely to have dysmenorrhea if they were underweight, having a low family income, living in a rural area, and reporting to have a family history of dysmenorrhea. The majority of respondents thought that the pharmacist had a major role in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: This study has reported a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among female university students in Jordan. There are growing opportunities for pharmacists to act in the treatment and management of dysmenorrhea.