Dataset Information

Primary dysmenorrhea and self-care strategies among Chinese college girls: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), the characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD among Chinese college girls.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Changsha, China.

Participants

A total of 2555 college girls were recruited using multistage cluster random sampling.

Outcome measures

A self-report questionnaire was used to measure sociodemographic information, characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD. Additionally, a Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure pain severity.

Results

Of the 2555 girls, 1306 had experienced PD, representing a 51.1% prevalence. In addition, the prevalence rates of mild, moderate and severe pain in PD were 18.1%, 27.7% and 5.4%, respectively. The most common symptoms associated with PD were cramps (96.9%), weakness (70.0%), backache (65.1%), facial blemishes (55.3%) and irritability (55.3%). Commonly used self-care strategies for managing PD comprised reducing physical activity (94.6%), keeping warm (84.6%), communicating dysmenorrhea with friends or classmates (79.0%), drinking warm beverages (75.7%) and avoiding cold drinks and foods (74.2%). In addition, only 34.8% self-medicated with Western medicine (15.6%), traditional Chinese medicine (8.6%), or both (10.6%). Medical advice was sought by 27.4% of subjects from a Western medical doctor (10.3%), a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (13.6%), or both (3.5%). Girls who had greater pain severity were more likely to be self-medicated (OR=7.01; 95%?CI 4.50 to 10.91), use complementary therapies (OR=2.64; 95%?CI 1.70 to 4.10) and seek medical advice (OR=5.93; 95%?CI 3.80 to 9.24).

Conclusions

PD is highly prevalent among Chinese college girls, with a high burden of symptoms. In addition, these girls are most likely to change their lifestyle, communicate dysmenorrhea with friends or mothers, use heat therapy and engage in self-talk, but less likely to self-medicate or seek medical advice for managing PD.

SUBMITTER: Chen L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6756436 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Primary dysmenorrhea and self-care strategies among Chinese college girls: a cross-sectional study.

Chen Ling L Tang Lu L Guo Shengyu S Kaminga Atipatsa Chiwanda AC Xu Huilan H

BMJ open 20190918 9

<h4>Objectives</h4>To explore the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), the characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD among Chinese college girls.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional study.<h4>Setting</h4>Changsha, China.<h4>Participants</h4>A total of 2555 college girls were recruited using multistage cluster random sampling.<h4>Outcome measures</h4>A self-report questionnaire was used to measure sociodemographic information, characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for ...[more]

PMID: 31537555

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Dataset Information

Primary dysmenorrhea and self-care strategies among Chinese college girls: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Primary dysmenorrhea and self-care strategies among Chinese college girls: a cross-sectional study.

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