Survey study, 2025
What do adolescent girls in Pakistan know and think about PMS?
Most know PMS exists but many don't understand its symptoms or how to manage it. Only 35% correctly linked symptoms to PMS, though 63% saw it as a normal part of menstruation.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 384 school girls aged 12-19 from low-income areas in Karachi, Pakistan who had started their periods. Researchers asked about what the girls knew, believed, and thought about PMS using a questionnaire.
What they found
68.8% were aware PMS exists. 35.2% correctly associated symptoms with PMS. 36.4% believed PMS is curable. 45.1% thought it was a serious health concern. 63% perceived it as normal. 53% preferred open talking about it. 59% agreed they should see a doctor. 56% supported menstrual leave at work.
What it means for you
Many adolescent girls understand PMS exists but have significant gaps in knowledge and myths persist. Better school-based education about menstrual health could help. The study was only in one region of Pakistan with girls from low-income areas.
68.8%
aware of PMS
35.2%
correctly linked symptoms to PMS
45.1%
saw PMS as serious health concern
About the study
- Original title
- Knowledge, Attitudes & Perceptions towards Premenstrual Syndrome among Low Socioeconomic School-Going Adolescent Girls in Karachi, Pakistan
- Authors
- Shaikh Ali Masood, Shabbir Ahmed Mallick, Hamna Jamal et al.
- Journal
- National Journal of Health Sciences
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 384
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.21089/njhs.104.0285
Topics
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