The impact of primary dysmenorrhea on the adolescents` activities and school attendance

Abstract

Background: The primary dysmenorrhea is the most prevalent menstrual problem in adolescence, which affects their daily activities, and it is the most common cause of adolescents` school absenteeism. Objectives: To detect the impact of primary dysmenorrhea on the adolescents` activities, and school attendance. Methods: One hundred and eighty (180) adolescents between 12-18 years-old with primary dysmenorrhea were included in this study. After thorough evaluation, a trans-abdominal pelvic ultrasound was done for the studied participants to exclude any pelvic pathology. The severity of the participants’ dysmenorrhea was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants were categorized based on the VAS into, mild dysmenorrhea (VAS 1-3), moderate dysmenorrhea (VAS 4-7), and severe dysmenorrhea (8-10) groups. Participants were asked whether the dysmenorrhea based on its severity (i.e., mild (VAS 1-3), moderate (VAS 4-7), or severe (VAS 8-10)), negatively affect their physical, and social activities, or their school attendance or not. The one-way ANOVA test was used to compare between the studied groups. The Pearson`s correlation was used to detect the relation between the severity of dysmenorrhea, and its negative impact on the adolescents’ activities, and school attendance. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the severity of dysmenorrhea, and its negative impact on the adolescents’ physical activities (r = 0.395; P<0.00001), and between the severity of dysmenorrhea, and its negative impact on the adolescents’ social activities (r = 0.658; P<0.00001). There was also a significant positive correlation between the severity dysmenorrhea and its negative impact on the adolescents’ school attendance (r = 0.416; P<0.00001). Conclusion: The odds of negative impact of dysmenorrhea on the adolescents` physical, and social activities, and on their school, attendance were significantly higher in adolescents suffering from moderate, and severe dysmenorrhea compared to adolescents with mild dysmenorrhea.