Prevalence and burden of primary headache disorders among a local community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Headache disorders are the most common complaints worldwide. Migraine, tension type and cluster headaches account for majority of primary headaches and improvise a substantial burden on the individual, family or society at large. There is a scanty data on the prevalence of primary headaches in sub-Saharan Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. Moreover there is no population based urban study in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and burden of primary headaches in local community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional sample survey was carried out in Addis Ketema sub city, Kebele 16/17/18 (local smallest administrative unit). Using systematic random sampling, data were collected by previously used headache questionnaire, over a period of 20 days. Results: The study subjects were 231 of which 51.5% were males and 48.5% were females. The overall one year prevalence of primary headache disorders was 21.6% and that for migraine was 10%, migraine without aura 6.5% migraine with aura was 2.6% and probable migraine was 0.9%. The prevalence of tension type of headache was found to be 10.4%, frequent episodic tension type headache was 8.2% followed by infrequent tension type headache of 2.2%. The prevalence of cluster headache was 1.3%. The burden of primary headache disorders in terms of missing working, school or social activities was 68.0%. This was 78.3% for migraineurs and 66.7% for tension type headache. Majority 92.0% of primary headache cases were not using health services and 66.0% did not use any drug or medications during the acute attacks and none were using preventive therapy.Conclusion: Prevalence and burden of primary headache disorders was substantial in this community. Health service utilization of the community for headache treatment was poor.

Prevalence of primary headache disorders diagnosed according to ICHD-3 beta in three different social groups

“…We can compare our results in workers with two studies among workers of a textile factory in Ethiopia (35). The one-year prevalence of migraine was 6.2% and of TTH 9%, almost the same as in workers in our study (7.3%), but the prevalence of TTH was significantly lower than in our study (37%).…”

Sex Differences in the Prevalence, Symptoms, and Associated Features of Migraine, Probable Migraine and Other Severe Headache: Results of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study

“…The prevalence of migraine reported in this study both overall and by sex is consistent with results of 2 previous population‐based US prevalence studies, the AMS I and AMS II demonstrating that the roughly three‐to‐one female to male sex PR has remained relatively stable in the United States over the past 30 years. Although rates vary to some degree from reports both within the United States and from other countries,1,3‐30 the female preponderance in migraine is consistent. Variations in prevalence may be due to true differences in prevalence or differences in methodology and sampling strategy.…”

“…In addition to the female preponderance in migraine prevalence, some studies have reported that females may experience greater symptomology and headache‐related disability . Sex differences have also been observed in the prevalence of probable migraine (PM), although the direction is not always consistent . Few data are available on sex differences in associated symptomology, frequency, and disability in PM.…”

Prevalence and incidence of neurological disorders among adult Ugandans in rural and urban Mukono district; a cross-sectional study

“…A higher prevalence was recorded in Zambia (72%) (gender- and habitation-adjusted 61.6%) [34] whereas, lower prevalence was reported in Ethiopia (21.6%) [35] and Tanzania (23.1%) [36]. The differences in the prevalence could be attributed to different methodologies used, as well as cultural and population characteristics of the studied patients.…”