Premenstrual Symptoms among Students in Health Institutions in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: About 90% of menstruating women get advanced warning of an approaching period because of the physical and/or psychological changes in the days before the period begins. Many women have mild symptoms and in a few it may be severe. This study intends to find the commonest symptoms among students in health institutions in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Objective: To determine the commonest premenstrual symptoms among students in health institutions in Zaria. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in some health institution in Zaria Northern Nigeria over a three month period. A total of 300 students were interviewed using semi structured open ended questionnaires. Information about premenstrual symptoms were sought. The criteria for the diagnosis of (Premenstrual Syndrome) PMS was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM IV Manual). Data was analyzed using computer software SPSS version 20. Results: Medical students constituted 42.7%, Nursing 28.6%, Medical Laboratory 27.8% and Medical Records 0.9%.Their age range was 18 to 29 years with a mean age of 20 + 3 years. The mean age of menarche was 13.7 years (SD 2.1).The prevalence of PMS was 40.7%. The major tribes (Hausa/ Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba) were more likely to have the above symptoms than both the Northern and Southern minorities. The commonest symptoms was abdominal pain/discomfort as seen in 180 (70.6%) of the respondents. Tiredness 158 (61.0%) and painful/tender breasts 149 (57.1%) were also common. Fifty seven percent (57.3%) 141 of them had severe symptoms warranting drug use while 8 (3.7%) had to be admitted in the hospital. The use of drugs for the above symptoms as well as the hospitalization rate was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Both physical and psychological premenstrual symptoms were found among these students which affected their quality of life. To what extent these symptoms affect studies and family life in our environment requires further research.