CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this study on Prevalence And Practices In Management

Of Dysmenorrhea Among Female Students Of Federal University Of
Technology Owerri, was written by Ben Juliana Ita, (Reg. No: 20121823687)
was formally approved as an undergraduate project of the Department of Public
Health, Federal University Of Technology Owerri

................................................... ……………………………
Prof. Okwuoma C. Abanobi Date
Project supervisor

................................................. ......……………….……........
Dr. Mrs. S. N. O. Ibe Date
HOD (Public Health)

.............................................. ..........………………..................
Rev. Sr (Prof.) Evangeline T. Oparaocha Date
Dean (SOHT)

...................................................... ..............................................
External Examiner Date

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 DEDICATION
This project work is dedicated to the Almighty God.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I appreciate the Almighty God in whom my source of inspiration came from in writing this
work and for his infinite grace, mercies, strength, support and directions.
I am grateful to my project supervisor, Prof. Okwuoma C. Abanobi, for his tolerance,
guidance and contributions to ensure this work is complete.
Special thanks goes to the Head of Department Public Health, Dr. Mrs. S.N.O Ibe, and the
Dean School of Health of Health Technology, Rev. Sis. (Prof.) E.T. Oparaocha for their
advice, encouragement and for ensuring a conducive learning environment to students.
I will not fail to acknowledge my course Adviser, Dr. Mrs. B. Nworu and the entire lecturers
in Public Health, who impacted knowledge positively in me.
They are as follows: Prof. I.N.S. Dozie, Prof. A.N. Amadi, Dr. Mrs. E.A. Nwoke, Dr. C.O.
Emerole, Dr. U. Chukwuocha, Dr. G.U.P. Iloh, Dr. C.C. Iwuala, Dr. J. Nwaokoro, Dr. O.G.
Udujih, Dr. C.I. Ebirim, Dr. C.C. Okereke, Dr. Mrs. C.A. Amadi, Dr. Mrs. C.R. Nwufo, Dr.
C.C. Onoh, Dr. G.N.U. Iwuoha, Mrs. W. Dozie, Mrs. O.S. Oriji, Miss. E. Judith, and Dr. R.O.
Chimezie.
I owe a million thanks to my sponsors, Hon/Mrs. I. Ben, and my spiritual father His
Lordship Bishop P.J. Udokang for their prayers, supports, encouragement and contribution.
Finally I appreciate my siblings Ernest, Blessing Ben, my relatives, my friends and everyone
who contributed in one way or the other to the success of this work.

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 ABSTRACT
Dysmenorrhea is the most common problem among adolescent girls. This study determined
the prevalence and practice in management of dysmenorrhea among female students of
Federal University of Technology Owerri. Randomly, fifty (50) students were selected from
each of the six (6) school of the university (SOHT SOCS SMAT SEET SAAT and SOES).
Questionnaire was used in collecting pertinent information from the three hundred, (300)
participants. Data was subjected to descriptive and chi-squre analysis using Genstat Statistical
Package version 18. Results revealed dysmenorrhea prevalence of 27.8%. Most 279 (94.6%)
of the students had regular menstrual cycle of 21-35 days 207 (70.2%) out of (82 that had
dysmenorrhea, most 56 (68.3%) of them experience mild dysmenorrhea with less than 2 days
duration of pain 63 (76.9%). Majority of the dysmenorrhea students were circumcised 53
(64.6%) and had family history of dysmenorrhea. Major signs and symptoms of
dysmenorrhea reported in the study was nausea (86.6%), pains in the hip (73.2%) and lower
abdomen (73.2%). Dysmenorrhea management by the students was mainly through the use of
drugs recommended by doctor 79 (96.3%) and taking warm water bath 55 (67.1%) with
strong association (x2= 9.56; Df =1; P= 0.002). Majority 43 (52.4%) engage in sex at interval
of 2 weeks in a month to reduce pain of dysmenorrhea. Nevertheless, the study recorded high
(86.6%) absenteeism in school as a result of dysmenorrhea.
Finally, the study recorded strong association between menarche and dysmenorrhea (x2=40.18; Df =2;
P<0.001). Insignificant association existed between rate of alcohol consumption and dysmenorrhea
(x2=0.28; Df=2; P=0.871) Similar insignificant relationship existed between type of oral contraceptives
and dysmenorrhea (x2=3.65; Df=7; P=0.819). Therefore, it is suggested that school authorities and
lecturers be aware of the problem of dysmenorrhea so as to improve psychological and
academic support through tutorial classes to the affected group of students who were
occasionally absent in classes.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
LIST OF TABLES vi
CHAPTER ONE 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 3
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 5
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 6
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 7
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 7
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 9
1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS 9
CHAPTER TWO 11
LITERATURE REVIEW 11
2.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 11
2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 30
2.3 EMPIRICAL STUDIES 34
2.4 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW 38
CHAPTER THREE 40
MATERIALS AND METHODS 40
3.1 STUDY DESIGN 40
3.2 AREA OF STUDY 41
3.3 STUDY POPULATION 41
3.4 SAMPLE SIZE 42
3.5 INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION 43
3.6 VALIDITY OF THE INSTRUMENT 43

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3.7 RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT 43
3.8 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION 44
3.9 METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS 44
3.10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION/INFORMED CONSENT. 44
CHAPTER FOUR 45
4.0 RESULTS 45
4.1 SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS 46
4.2 INFORMATION ON VOLUME OF FLOW 49
4.3 DYSMENORRHEA PREVENTION MEASURES 54
4.4 Influence Of Age Of Onset Of Menarche, Rate Of Alcohol And Type Of Oral

Contraceptives On Dysmenorrhea. 60
CHAPTER FIVE 61
5.0 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 61
5.1 DISCUSSION 61
5.2 CONCLUSIONS 65
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS 67
REFERENCE 68
QUESTIONNAIRE 76

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 LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents 45
Table 2: Information on volume of flow and dysmenorrhea 47
Table 3: Dysmenorrhea management measures 53

Table 4: Influence of age of onset of menarche, rate of alcohol and type of

Oral contraceptives on dysmenorrhea 59

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Fig 1: Prevalence of dysmenorrhea 50
Fig 2: Signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea experienced 51
Fig 3: Types of drug Treatment 55
Fig 4: Types of oral contraceptives used 56

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