Prevalence and predictors of dysmenorrhea among students at a university in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students and to evaluate the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the condition.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 857 students conducted by questionnaire in April 2007 at a university in Turkey. A visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed using the chi(2) test and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 55.5% (444 out of 800 women). Risk of dysmenorrhea was approximately 1.5-times higher in women with a satisfactory spending allowance (OR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05-2.13); 3.5-times higher in women with a family history of dysmenorrhea (OR 3.48; 95% CI, 2.54-4.78); 1.5-times higher in women who were underweight compared with overweight/obese women (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.99-2.33); 1.6-times higher in women who reported a history of smoking (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.10-2.25); and 1.8-times higher in women with an excessive sugar intake (OR 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15-2.72).


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students is a significant health problem that requires attention.
Ozerdogan
Nebahat
N
Eskisehir Osmangazi University Nursing College, Meselik-Eskisehir, Turkey.
Sayiner
Deniz
D
Ayranci
Unal
U
Unsal
Alaettin
A
Giray
Sevgi
S
D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D019422:Dietary Sucrose