Survey study, 2023
How common is PMS in high school girls and what helps them cope?
PMS was found in 41.2% of high school girls. The most common coping strategies were visiting health clinics (42.6%), listening to music (40.0%), and taking showers (38.0%). Girls with family history or using hormonal birth control were more likely to have PMS.
What they did
This cross-sectional study surveyed 422 high school girls in Ethiopia in 2020. Of these, 408 completed the survey with a 96.7% response rate. Girls answered questions about PMS symptoms, coping strategies, family history, sexual activity, and hormonal contraceptive use.
What they found
PMS was present in 41.2% of girls. Girls with a family history of PMS were significantly more likely to have PMS. Girls using hormonal contraceptives were significantly more likely to have PMS. Girls with a history of sexual intercourse were less likely to have PMS. For coping, 42.6% visited health clinics, 40.0% listened to music, and 38.0% took showers.
What it means for you
PMS is fairly common in adolescent girls and appears to run in families. Hormonal contraceptive use is associated with PMS, while sexual activity was associated with lower PMS rates. The reason is unclear. Many girls use simple coping strategies like music and showers, while others seek medical care. The study was done in one city in Ethiopia, so findings may not apply elsewhere.
408
High school girls surveyed
41.2%
With PMS
40.0%
Using music to cope
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome, Life Style & Behavioral Coping Mechanisms and Associated Factors Among Public High School Regular Female Students at Bahir Dar City, Northwest, Ethiopia
- Authors
- Zeleke B, Workineh Y, Melese A et al.
- Journal
- Research Square
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 422
- What was tested
- None (observational)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2418487/v1
Original abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess premenstrual syndrome, life style & behavioral coping mechanisms and associated factors among public high school regular female students at Bahir Dar city, Northwest, Ethiopia,2020 Result: Out of 422 study participants,408 respondents participated in the study making the response rate 96.7%. In the current study ,the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was 41.2% (95% CI:36.3,45.8). Family history of premenstrual syndrome (AOR:4.18,95% CI:[2.61,6.71]) and using hormonal contraceptives (AOR:10.30 CI:[4.39,24.17]) were positively associated factors with premenstrual syndrome.On the other hand , history of sexual intercourse (AOR:0.18,95% CI:[0.08,0.43]) was negatively associated with premenstrual syndrome.Visiting clinics 174 (42.6%), listening music 163 (40.0%) and taking shower 155(38.0%) were the most frequently practiced life style & behavioral coping mechanisms for premenstrual symptoms by the respondents. The current study concluded that premenstrual syndrome was high among the study participants.Therfore,this study recommended that health care workers should work on awareness creation about premenstrual syndrome and life style & behavioral coping mechanisms and further large scale researches need to done.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
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