Abstract:
Background: Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual pain that are manifested in reproductive age women causing social and economic disruption in the lives of women who suffer from it. Even though it is the most complaints occurring in 60% to 93% of school girls compromising a healthy menstrual cycle globally, in Ethiopia healthcare-seeking practice towards dysmenorrhea have not been studied.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the healthcare-seeking practice towards dysmenorrhea and associated factor among female students who had dysmenorrhea at high schools in Ambo town, West Shoa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2023
Methods: Institution-based cross sectional mixed study was employed. The Study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection method. Participants were randomly selected from all 6 High schools in Ambo town. With a use of simple random sampling technique a total sample size of 422 were selected. The collected data were entered by EpiInfo version 7 and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25. A Binary Logistic Regression analysis was computed. Variables having ρ-value <0.25 were computed in bivariable logistic regression model. Variables with 95% CI at ρ-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Result were displayed by using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. For qualitative study, in depth interview technique was employed. The findings of the qualitative method were analyzed according to their thematic area. Then the findings were transcribed and triangulated with the quantitative results.
Results: Four hundred sixteen study participants were interviewed yielding a response rate of 98.6%. Only about 43.5% (95% CI: 38.7-48.3) sought healthcare practice. Grade of the students [(AOR=3.06, 95%CI: (1.45, 6.47)] Mothers’ educational status [AOR=3.23, 95%CI :( 1.69, 6.17)] and Presence of family history of dysmenorrhea [(AOR= 2.44, 95%CI: (1.36, 4.38)] were significantly associated with healthcare seeking practice. Finding from the qualitative data also indicated that cultural norms and lack of reliable information limit healthcare seeking.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Healthcare-seeking practice towards dysmenorrhea is low among Ambo High schools female students. So school authorities and district health office should do cooperatively to increase ways of management
