Knowledge of the causes and management of dysmenorrhea among students in the faculties of nursing and pharmacy in Niger delta university, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is defined as painful menstruation due to prostaglandin secretion that is associated with cramps. It is a recurrent crampy pain that occurs during the menstruation. This study aimed at identifying student pharmacists and student nurses’ knowledge of dysmenorrhea and pattern of treatment of dysmenorrhea. A random simple sampling techniques was employed. A total of 380 questionnaires were retrieved from the participants cutting across 200 level to 500 level student pharmacists and student nurses. The study was conducted in Niger Delta University in the Faculties of Nursing and Faculty of Pharmacy. Ethical approval was gotten from the Niger Delta University Ethics committee. Participants were mostly within the age group of 21 to 25 years. Most of the participants were single and were Christian worshippers. Participants always reported that they suffer from dysmenorrhea often. Also, their siblings and mothers were indifferent There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.005) between student pharmacists and student nurses that reported that they suffer from dysmenorrhea often. The majority of the pharmacist reported that dysmenorrhea symptoms were severe among those who were affected. Participants reported inadequate knowledge of the causes/or risk factors for dysmenorrhea. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.55) with knowledge of the causes/or risk factors for dysmenorrhea among the student pharmacists and student nurses. Non-pharmacological management of managing dysmenorrhea were not effective when used except for exercise and application of heat to the stomach surface. There was no statistically significant different (p = 0.49) between the student pharmacists and student nurses that used the non-pharmacological management in treating dysmenorrhea. Pharmacological management of dysmenorrhea were very effective among those who used it. There was a statistically significant different (p = 0.001) between the student pharmacists and student nurses that used the pharmacological method in managing dysmenorrhea. More attention in educating the participants on the causes/or risk factors of dysmenorrhea is required in the study center. We recommend that causes/or risk, and management of dysmenorrhea in the student pharmacists and students nurses’ curriculum should be reviewed to cover up the gaps identified in this study. Also, the need to engage a Family physician, gynecologist, or a reproductive health officer in the University health center /or clinic to educate the female student pharmacists, student nurses and other female student in the university population is urgently required.