Menstrual characteristics of secondary school girls in Ibadan, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Disturbances of menstrual function are the commonest complaints among adolescents. Disorders of menstruation may have implications for future reproductive health.


OBJECTIVE
To assess menstrual patterns among school girls in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria.


METHODS
This was cross-sectional descriptive study in which 1,213 apparently healthy school girls were selected by multistage sampling technique in fifteen secondary schools from the five local governments within the metropolis. Information about details of menstrual experience was obtained with a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
The girls were aged between 9 and 23 years. Majority of respondents 768 (633%) experienced normal cycle length, 391 (32.2%) had short cycles; and 55 (4.5%) had cycle length greater than 35 days. Prevalence of normal cycles increased with increasing age; abnormalities of cycle length tended to decrease with increasing age (p < 0.01). The majority, 1,152 (95%), had normal menstrual loss. The majority 882 (72.7%) experienced dysmenorrhoea; severe dysmenorrhoea was reported by 154 (12.7%). Cycle length was not associated with presence of dysmenorrhoea (p > 0.05); 695 (57.3%) had symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of menstrual abnormalities among adolescent schoolgirls is high. More attention should be paid to identify and treat these menstrual morbidities.
Fawole
A O
AO
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. fawoleo@yahoo.co.uk
Babarinsa
I A
IA
Fawole
O I
OI
Obisesan
K A
KA
Ojengbede
O A
OA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult