Abstract:
Background: Dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual problem among females in the reproductive ages. It negatively affects adolescents’ and young adults’ school performance, socialization, and daily household chores. However, few studies have been conducted on dysmenorrhea among high school students in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated factors among Ginchi high school female students in Dendi district, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2023.
Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Ginchi high school female students in Dendi district from December 1 to 30, 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 356 respondents. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-data and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to show the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. Bivariable binary logistic regression analysis was computed and variables with p-value < 0.25 were considered as a candidate for multivariable binary logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated to identify association. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05.
Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 254 (70.6%); 95%CI (65.6, 75.2). Age of participants (<=17 years), AOR= 2.55; 95% CI (1.44, 4.53), family history of dysmenorrhea, AOR=2.409; 95% CI: (1.44, 4.02), age at menarche(<=12years), AOR = 3.22; 95% CI (1.36, 7.58), heavy menstrual flow AOR=2.08; 95% CI (1.06, 4.06), and physical activities, AOR= 0.38; 95% CI (0.19, 0.85) were significantly associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea.
Conclusion & Recommendation: Dysmenorrhea was a common problem among Ginchi High School female students. Age of participants (<=17 years), family history of dysmenorrhea, age at menarche (<=12years, heavy menstrual flow and physical activity were significantly associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. Therefore, school authorities and teachers should give awareness-creation and health education programs about dysmenorrhea and its associated factors.
