---
title: How common is premenstrual tension among nurses in Kenya? | Niyora
description: Very common. 95.5 percent of 400 nurses studied reported premenstrual tension, with breast tenderness and bloating being the most frequent symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-tension-among-nurses-in-nairobi-kenya-1993/
---

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- How common is premenstrual tension among nurses in Kenya?

Survey study, 1993

# How common is premenstrual tension among nurses in Kenya?

Very common. 95.5 percent of 400 nurses studied reported premenstrual tension, with breast tenderness and bloating being the most frequent symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

400 nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 400 nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. They were interviewed using an investigator-administered questionnaire about premenstrual tension symptoms and their impact on daily life.

## What they found

95.5 percent had premenstrual tension. The most common symptom was mastalgia (breast tenderness) at 79.0 percent, followed by abdominal bloating at 75.0 percent. Suicidal tendencies and insomnia were rare. Only 6.5 percent changed their activities during this period and only 3.1 percent used medication. Age, marital status, parity, and dysmenorrhoea showed no correlation with premenstrual tension.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual tension is nearly universal in this group of nurses, but most did not consider it an illness. Since this is a single hospital in Kenya, findings may not apply to other countries or populations.

95.5%

Nurses with premenstrual tension

79.0%

With breast tenderness symptom

75.0%

With abdominal bloating symptom

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual tension among nurses in Nairobi, Kenya Authors Rupani NP, Lema VM Journal East African medical journal Year 1993 Study design Survey study Participants 400 What was tested None Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8306911/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8306911/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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