Knowledge, experiences, and coping practices of female adolescents toward dysmenorrhea in selected secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State

https://doi.org/10.35912/rnhr.v1i1.3756
Published: Sep 9, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: To assess female adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and coping practices regarding dysmenorrhea in selected secondary schools in Ibadan North LGA, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methodology/approach: Descriptive cross-sectional survey of 200 female students (mean age 14.98 ± 2.48) using a structured, self-administered questionnaire; analysis conducted in SPSS v25 with descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, SD).

Results/findings: Dysmenorrhea was prevalent (72.5%) and commonly interfered with daily activities (82.5%) and school attendance (47.5%). Knowledge was generally moderate, but misconceptions about causes and severity persisted. Coping was largely self-managed: analgesics (50.0%) and rest (45.0%) were most common; healthcare-seeking was relatively low (12.5%).

Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea substantially affects adolescents’ functioning and academic participation, with knowledge gaps and low utilization of professional care. Strengthening school-based menstrual health education and access to adolescent-friendly services is essential.

Limitations: Cross-sectional, self-reported data from selected schools in one LGA limit causal inference and generalizability; analyses were primarily descriptive.

Contribution: Provides local baseline evidence to inform targeted school interventions, safe coping guidance, and improved help-seeking for menstrual pain among adolescents.

Keywords:
1. Attitude
2. Coping Practices
3. Dysmenorrhea
4. Female Adolescents
5. Knowledge
6. Nigeria
7. Secondary Schools
Authors:
1 . Ayomide Oluwaseyi Aibinuomo
Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
2 . Rakiya Saleh
Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Science Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
3 . Akintomide Adeola Abiodun
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
4 . Adedamola Tella
University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
5 . Amin Muyiwa Adeleke
Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria
6 . Femi Falana Paul
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): August
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References

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    Al-Kindi, R., & Al-Bulushi, A. (2011). Prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhoea among Omani high school students. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 11(4), 485-491.

    Atteraya, M. S., Song, I. H., Ebrahim, N. B., Gnawali, S., Kim, E., & Dhakal, T. (2023). Inequalities in childhood immunisation in South Asia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 1755. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031755

    Awad, A. G., & Youness, E. M. (2019). Assessment of knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Adolescent Girls Regarding Dysmenorrhea. Minia Scientific Nursing Journal, 5(1), 23-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.21608/msnj.2019.187785s

    Babatunde, O., Olatunji, M., Omotajo, O., Ikwunne, O., Babatunde, A., Nihinlola, E., . . . Dairo, M. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on routine immunization in Oyo State, Nigeria: trend analysis of immunization data in the pre- and post-index case period; 2019-2020. Pan African Medical Journal, 41. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2022.41.54.28575

    Barnard, N. D. (2020). Dysmenorrhea. In N. D. Barnard (Ed.), Nutrition Guide for Clinicians (3 ed.). Washington, DC: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

    Chen, C.-H., Lin, Y.-H., Heitkemper, M. M., & Wu, K.-M. (2006). The self-care strategies of girls with primary dysmenorrhea: a focus group study in Taiwan. Health Care for Women International, 27(5), 418-427. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07399330600629583

    Chen, C. X., Shieh, C., Draucker, C. B., & Carpenter, J. S. (2018). Reasons women do not seek health care for dysmenorrhea. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(1-2), 301-308. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13946

    Chia, C., Lai, J. H., Cheung, P., Kwong, L., Lau, F. P., Leung, K., . . . Ngu, S. (2013). Dysmenorrhoea among Hong Kong university students: prevalence, impact, and management. Hong Kong Medical Journal, 19(3), 1-7. doi:https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj133807

    Clinic, C. (2023). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9132-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd

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    Dawood, M. Y. (2006). Primary dysmenorrhea: advances in pathogenesis and management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 108(2), 428-441. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000230214.26638.0c

    De Sanctis, V., Soliman, A. T., Elsedfy, H., Soliman, N. A., Elalaily, R., & El Kholy, M. (2016). Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: a review in different countries. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 87(3), 233-246.

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    Eryilmaz, G., Ozdemir, F., & Pasinlioglu, T. (2010). Dysmenorrhea prevalence among adolescents in eastern Turkey: its effects on school performance and relationships with family and friends. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 23(5), 267-272. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2010.02.009

    Femi-Agboola, D. M., Sekoni, O. O., & Goodman, O. O. (2017). Dysmenorrhea and its effects on school absenteeism and school activities among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 58(4), 143-148. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/nmj.nmj_47_17

    Fennie, T., Moletsane, M., & Padmanabhanunni, A. (2022). Adolescent girls’ perceptions and cultural beliefs about menstruation and menstrual practices: A scoping review. African journal of reproductive health, 26(2), 88-105.

    Forshaw, J., Gerver, S. M., Gill, M., Cooper, E., Manikam, L., & Ward, H. (2017). The global effect of maternal education on complete childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC infectious diseases, 17(1), 801. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2890-y

    Hollins-Martin, C., van den Akker, O., Martin, C., & Preedy, V. R. (2014). Handbook of diet and nutrition in the menstrual cycle, periconception and fertility: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

    Jayaram, R., Subbarayan, K., Mithraprabhu, S., & Govindarajan, M. (2016). Heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea are improved by Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) of adenomyosis. Fertility Research and Practice, 2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40738-016-0021-x

    Kho, K. A., & Shields, J. K. (2020). Diagnosis and management of primary dysmenorrhea. Jama, 323(3), 268-269. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.16921

    Kural, M., Noor, N. N., Pandit, D., Joshi, T., & Patil, A. (2015). Menstrual characteristics and prevalence of dysmenorrhea in college going girls. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(3), 426-431. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.161345

    Malande, D. O. (2019). Barriers to effective uptake and provision of immunization in a rural district in Uganda. Plos one, 14.

    Monga, D. C., & Konar, H. (2020). Monga DC textbook of gynaecology (6 ed.). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.

    Poureslami, M., & Osati-Ashtiani, F. (2002). Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of adolescent girls in suburban districts of Tehran about dysmenorrhea and menstrual hygiene. Journal of International Women's Studies, 3(2), 51-61.

    Salako, J., Bakare, D., Uchendu, O. C., Bakare, A. A., Graham, H., & Falade, A. G. (2023). Factors associated with immunization status among children aged 12-59 months in Lagelu local government area, Ibadan: a cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal, 46(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1054-0

    Vashisht, A., Pathak, R., Agarwalla, R., Patavegar, B. N., & Panda, M. (2018). School absenteeism during menstruation amongst adolescent girls in Delhi, India. Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 25(3), 163-168. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_161_17

    Williams, S. V., Akande, T., & Abbas, K. (2024). Systematic review of social determinants of childhood immunisation in low-and middle-income countries and equity impact analysis of childhood vaccination coverage in Nigeria. Plos one, 19(3), e0297326. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297326

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  2. Al-Kindi, R., & Al-Bulushi, A. (2011). Prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhoea among Omani high school students. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 11(4), 485-491.
  3. Atteraya, M. S., Song, I. H., Ebrahim, N. B., Gnawali, S., Kim, E., & Dhakal, T. (2023). Inequalities in childhood immunisation in South Asia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 1755. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031755
  4. Awad, A. G., & Youness, E. M. (2019). Assessment of knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Adolescent Girls Regarding Dysmenorrhea. Minia Scientific Nursing Journal, 5(1), 23-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.21608/msnj.2019.187785s
  5. Babatunde, O., Olatunji, M., Omotajo, O., Ikwunne, O., Babatunde, A., Nihinlola, E., . . . Dairo, M. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on routine immunization in Oyo State, Nigeria: trend analysis of immunization data in the pre- and post-index case period; 2019-2020. Pan African Medical Journal, 41. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2022.41.54.28575
  6. Barnard, N. D. (2020). Dysmenorrhea. In N. D. Barnard (Ed.), Nutrition Guide for Clinicians (3 ed.). Washington, DC: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
  7. Chen, C.-H., Lin, Y.-H., Heitkemper, M. M., & Wu, K.-M. (2006). The self-care strategies of girls with primary dysmenorrhea: a focus group study in Taiwan. Health Care for Women International, 27(5), 418-427. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07399330600629583
  8. Chen, C. X., Shieh, C., Draucker, C. B., & Carpenter, J. S. (2018). Reasons women do not seek health care for dysmenorrhea. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(1-2), 301-308. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13946
  9. Chia, C., Lai, J. H., Cheung, P., Kwong, L., Lau, F. P., Leung, K., . . . Ngu, S. (2013). Dysmenorrhoea among Hong Kong university students: prevalence, impact, and management. Hong Kong Medical Journal, 19(3), 1-7. doi:https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj133807
  10. Clinic, C. (2023). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9132-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd
  11. Costa, F., Neves Silva, L., Cata-Preta, B., Santos, T., Ferreira, L., Mengistu, T., . . . Victora, C. (2024). Child immunization status according to number of siblings and birth order in 85 low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study. EClinicalMedicine, 71. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102547
  12. Dawood, M. Y. (2006). Primary dysmenorrhea: advances in pathogenesis and management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 108(2), 428-441. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000230214.26638.0c
  13. De Sanctis, V., Soliman, A. T., Elsedfy, H., Soliman, N. A., Elalaily, R., & El Kholy, M. (2016). Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: a review in different countries. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 87(3), 233-246.
  14. Dixon, S., Hirst, J., Taghinejadi, N., Duddy, C., Vincent, K., & Ziebland, S. (2024). What is known about adolescent dysmenorrhoea in (and for) community health settings? Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 6. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2024.1394978
  15. Durain, D. (2004). Primary dysmenorrhea: assessment and management update. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 49(6), 520-528. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2004.08.013
  16. Eryilmaz, G., Ozdemir, F., & Pasinlioglu, T. (2010). Dysmenorrhea prevalence among adolescents in eastern Turkey: its effects on school performance and relationships with family and friends. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 23(5), 267-272. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2010.02.009
  17. Femi-Agboola, D. M., Sekoni, O. O., & Goodman, O. O. (2017). Dysmenorrhea and its effects on school absenteeism and school activities among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 58(4), 143-148. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/nmj.nmj_47_17
  18. Fennie, T., Moletsane, M., & Padmanabhanunni, A. (2022). Adolescent girls’ perceptions and cultural beliefs about menstruation and menstrual practices: A scoping review. African journal of reproductive health, 26(2), 88-105.
  19. Forshaw, J., Gerver, S. M., Gill, M., Cooper, E., Manikam, L., & Ward, H. (2017). The global effect of maternal education on complete childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC infectious diseases, 17(1), 801. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2890-y
  20. Hollins-Martin, C., van den Akker, O., Martin, C., & Preedy, V. R. (2014). Handbook of diet and nutrition in the menstrual cycle, periconception and fertility: Wageningen Academic Publishers.
  21. Jayaram, R., Subbarayan, K., Mithraprabhu, S., & Govindarajan, M. (2016). Heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea are improved by Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) of adenomyosis. Fertility Research and Practice, 2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40738-016-0021-x
  22. Kho, K. A., & Shields, J. K. (2020). Diagnosis and management of primary dysmenorrhea. Jama, 323(3), 268-269. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.16921
  23. Kural, M., Noor, N. N., Pandit, D., Joshi, T., & Patil, A. (2015). Menstrual characteristics and prevalence of dysmenorrhea in college going girls. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(3), 426-431. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.161345
  24. Malande, D. O. (2019). Barriers to effective uptake and provision of immunization in a rural district in Uganda. Plos one, 14.
  25. Monga, D. C., & Konar, H. (2020). Monga DC textbook of gynaecology (6 ed.). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
  26. Poureslami, M., & Osati-Ashtiani, F. (2002). Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of adolescent girls in suburban districts of Tehran about dysmenorrhea and menstrual hygiene. Journal of International Women's Studies, 3(2), 51-61.
  27. Salako, J., Bakare, D., Uchendu, O. C., Bakare, A. A., Graham, H., & Falade, A. G. (2023). Factors associated with immunization status among children aged 12-59 months in Lagelu local government area, Ibadan: a cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal, 46(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1054-0
  28. Vashisht, A., Pathak, R., Agarwalla, R., Patavegar, B. N., & Panda, M. (2018). School absenteeism during menstruation amongst adolescent girls in Delhi, India. Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 25(3), 163-168. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_161_17
  29. Williams, S. V., Akande, T., & Abbas, K. (2024). Systematic review of social determinants of childhood immunisation in low-and middle-income countries and equity impact analysis of childhood vaccination coverage in Nigeria. Plos one, 19(3), e0297326. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297326