Unsure Last Normal Menstrual Period among Pregnant Women in Low Resource Setting: The Experience from Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The proper management of any pregnancy depends on the accurate determination of the gestational age. In resource constrained environment where imaging techniques may not be readily available, accessible and affordable, the knowledge of menstrual period is key. Unfortunately, some of the pregnant women at antenatal clinics do not know their last normal menstrual period (LNMP). Aim/Objectives: This research was designed to ascertain the proportion of women who do not know their LNMP and associated factors. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving antenatal attendees at the booking clinic of the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe. Data such as socio-demographics, knowledge of dates/associated factors and willingness to remember the menstrual period subsequently was collected through a structured questionnaire from 1st March to 31st August 2022 and analysis done with IBM® SPSS® statistical Inc., Armonk, New York, USA software version 25 for analysis. Qui-square used as a test of statistics and the results presented in charts, graphs and tables. Results: Out of the 350 respondents 181(51.7%) knew their LNMP, while 169(48.3%) did not know. However, as much as 70.6% of the respondents knew that LNMP is used to date pregnancy. Reasons for not knowing dates included; not just keeping records of dates (25.4%), ignorance of Gregorian calendar (13.0%), on contraceptives when pregnancy was identified (10.7%), no reason (8.3%), was breastfeeding (6.5%), among several others. Surprisingly, 32% did not know the problems that may arise due to ignorance of LNMP. Majority (90.0%) of the respondents are willing to remember their LNMP in the next pregnancy. Women ≤ 19years and ≥ 40 years (p=0.004), lower level of education (p=0.004), Grand-multiparity (p=0.035), more than 4 living children (p=0.02) and rural dwellers (p=0.001) were more likely not to know their LNMP. Conclusion: The study showed 48.3% of the women were ignorant of their LNMP. The associated factors were extreme of ages, low level of education, grand multi-parity, having more than 4 living children and rural place of residence. Going forward, majority of the women accepted to remember their LNMP.