Abstract

YANEZ, Natalia; BAUTISTA-ROA, Sandra Johanna; RUIZ-STERNBERG, Jaime Enrique  and  RUIZ-STERNBERG, Ángela María. Prevalence and factors associated with dysmenorrheal in health science students. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2010, vol.8, n.3, pp.37-48. ISSN 1692-7273.

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea has a prevalence between 60 and 93%. Different factors have been associated such as age at menarche, body mass index, exercise, smoking and maternal history of dysmenorrhea among others. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, based on an anonymous survey applied to a random sample of 127 women from the school of medicine and psychology at the Universidad Del Rosario. Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrheal was 73%. 67% of participants presenting with menstrual pain, reported they have taken medication for pain relief, (66.7% self medicated). 32.5% of respondents with dysmenorrheal have been absent from their academic or social work, with a percentage of school absenteeism due to pain from 74.5% in at least one day. The risk of dysmenorrhoea was 2.36 times higher in women who had mothers with this history (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.03 to 5.40). No associations with other factors were found. Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea is a disease with a high prevalence and significant impact on school absenteeism. Maternal history of dysmenorrhea was the only factor positively associated in this study.

Keywords : dismenorrea; factores de riesgo; estudiantes; automedicación; dysmenorrhea; prevalence; risk factors; students; self medication.

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