European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea

Received: 28 August 2016    Accepted: 12 October 2016    Published: 28 October 2016
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Abstract

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and behavioral symptoms that occur in women which can adversely affect their social interaction, educational performance and emotional well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of Premenstrual syndrome and its effects on the academic and social aspects of students in Asmara College of Health sciences. A cross sectional study was conducted among 240 female students of Asmara College of Health Sciences from January to March 2016 in Asmara, Eritrea. Respondents were selected using stratified systematic random sampling method. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20. The criterion proposed by the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD 10) was used for diagnosis and performance indicators were employed to measure the prevalence and effects of PMS. The results of the study show that the prevalence of PMS was found to be 17.5%. 96.5% had experienced at least one premenstrual symptom. Out of the students diagnosed with PMS, 78.6% reported their concentration in class was affected, 90.5% had stopped studying and class missing was reported by 45% of the students. Poor social interaction was also reported with their family (66.7%) and friends (40.5%). PMS affected the ability of performing home chores in 83% of respondents and 57.1% socially isolated themselves due to its symptoms. There was no significant association of any demographic characteristics with PMS. The effect of PMS with social indicators such as impaired interaction with family members and friends, inability to perform chores and social isolation were statistically significant (CI 95%, p<0.05). All academic effect indicators such as loss of concentration in class, stopping studying and missing classes were significantly associated with PMS (CI 95%, p<0.05). However there was no significant association of PMS with scoring lower grade and applying for academic withdrawal. In conclusion, although the prevalence of PMS was relatively low, it was seen to affect students negatively in their academic activities and social lives.

DOI 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11
Published in European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1, February 2016)
Page(s) 1-5
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Prevalence, Premenstrual Syndrome, College Students

References
[1] Dennerstein L, Lehert P, Bäckström TC, Heinemann K. Premenstrual symptoms-severity, duration and typology: an international cross sectional study. Menopause Int. 2009; 15(3): 120-126.
[2] Shaughn O'Brien, Andrea J Rapkin, Peter J Schmidt: Premenstrual Syndromes: PMS and PMDD. Informa 2007.
[3] Am Fam Physician. 2011; 84(8):918-924. Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Family Physicians.
[4] Rapkin AJ, Winer SA. Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: quality of life and burden of illness. Expert Rev Pharma- coecon Outcomes Res. 2009; 9(2): 157-170.
[5] Biggs, WS; Demuth, RH (2011). Pre- menstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. American family physician 84(8): 918–24.
[6] Chau JP, Chang AM, Chang AM. Relationship between premenstrual tension syndrome and anxiety in Chinese adolescents. J Adolesc Health 1998.
[7] Bakhshani NM, Mousavi MN, Khodabandeh G: Prevalence and severity of premenstrual symptoms among Iranian female university students. J Pak Med Assoc2009, 59: 205-208.
[8] Anandha Lakshmi et. al, Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhoea among Female Medical Students and its Association with College Absenteeism. Int J Biol Med Res. 2011; 2(4): 1011-1016.
[9] Mahesh A, Zubair S, Tirmizi A, Ali SS: Frequency and associated factors of Premenstrual Syndrome in Medical College Girls. Med Channel 2011, 17(1): 34–38.
[10] Tolossa and Bekele. Prevalence, impacts and medical managements of premenstrual syndrome among female students: a cross-sectional study in college of health sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia. BMC Women's Health 2014 14: 52.
[11] Tenkir A, Fisseha N, Ayele B. Premenstrual syndrome: Prevalence and effect on academic and social performances of students in Jimma University, Ethiopia. J Health Dev 2002, 17: 181–188.
[12] Parvaneh N: Premenstrual syndrome among Teacher Training University students in Iran. J Obstet Gynecol India 2008, 58(1): 49–52.
Author Information
  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea

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    Eyob Azaria, Meron Mehari, Nahom Kiros, Filmon Woldu, Awet T esfay, et al. (2016). The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea. European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, 2(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11

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    Eyob Azaria; Meron Mehari; Nahom Kiros; Filmon Woldu; Awet T esfay, et al. The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea. Eur. J. Clin. Biomed. Sci. 2016, 2(1), 1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11

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    AMA Style

    Eyob Azaria, Meron Mehari, Nahom Kiros, Filmon Woldu, Awet T esfay, et al. The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea. Eur J Clin Biomed Sci. 2016;2(1):1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11,
      author = {Eyob Azaria and Meron Mehari and Nahom Kiros and Filmon Woldu and Awet T esfay and Fisseha Solomon and Furtuna Weldebruk},
      title = {The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea},
      journal = {European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-5},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejcbs.20160201.11},
      abstract = {Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and behavioral symptoms that occur in women which can adversely affect their social interaction, educational performance and emotional well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of Premenstrual syndrome and its effects on the academic and social aspects of students in Asmara College of Health sciences. A cross sectional study was conducted among 240 female students of Asmara College of Health Sciences from January to March 2016 in Asmara, Eritrea. Respondents were selected using stratified systematic random sampling method. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20. The criterion proposed by the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD 10) was used for diagnosis and performance indicators were employed to measure the prevalence and effects of PMS. The results of the study show that the prevalence of PMS was found to be 17.5%. 96.5% had experienced at least one premenstrual symptom. Out of the students diagnosed with PMS, 78.6% reported their concentration in class was affected, 90.5% had stopped studying and class missing was reported by 45% of the students. Poor social interaction was also reported with their family (66.7%) and friends (40.5%). PMS affected the ability of performing home chores in 83% of respondents and 57.1% socially isolated themselves due to its symptoms. There was no significant association of any demographic characteristics with PMS. The effect of PMS with social indicators such as impaired interaction with family members and friends, inability to perform chores and social isolation were statistically significant (CI 95%, p<0.05). All academic effect indicators such as loss of concentration in class, stopping studying and missing classes were significantly associated with PMS (CI 95%, p<0.05). However there was no significant association of PMS with scoring lower grade and applying for academic withdrawal. In conclusion, although the prevalence of PMS was relatively low, it was seen to affect students negatively in their academic activities and social lives.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Prevalence and Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Health Science Students in Eritrea
    AU  - Eyob Azaria
    AU  - Meron Mehari
    AU  - Nahom Kiros
    AU  - Filmon Woldu
    AU  - Awet T esfay
    AU  - Fisseha Solomon
    AU  - Furtuna Weldebruk
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11
    T2  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JF  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JO  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 5
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5005
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20160201.11
    AB  - Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and behavioral symptoms that occur in women which can adversely affect their social interaction, educational performance and emotional well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of Premenstrual syndrome and its effects on the academic and social aspects of students in Asmara College of Health sciences. A cross sectional study was conducted among 240 female students of Asmara College of Health Sciences from January to March 2016 in Asmara, Eritrea. Respondents were selected using stratified systematic random sampling method. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20. The criterion proposed by the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD 10) was used for diagnosis and performance indicators were employed to measure the prevalence and effects of PMS. The results of the study show that the prevalence of PMS was found to be 17.5%. 96.5% had experienced at least one premenstrual symptom. Out of the students diagnosed with PMS, 78.6% reported their concentration in class was affected, 90.5% had stopped studying and class missing was reported by 45% of the students. Poor social interaction was also reported with their family (66.7%) and friends (40.5%). PMS affected the ability of performing home chores in 83% of respondents and 57.1% socially isolated themselves due to its symptoms. There was no significant association of any demographic characteristics with PMS. The effect of PMS with social indicators such as impaired interaction with family members and friends, inability to perform chores and social isolation were statistically significant (CI 95%, p<0.05). All academic effect indicators such as loss of concentration in class, stopping studying and missing classes were significantly associated with PMS (CI 95%, p<0.05). However there was no significant association of PMS with scoring lower grade and applying for academic withdrawal. In conclusion, although the prevalence of PMS was relatively low, it was seen to affect students negatively in their academic activities and social lives.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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