Research Article
Prevalence, Management, and Impact of Dysmenorrhea on the Lives of Nurse and Midwife Trainees in Northern Ghana
Table 1
Characteristics of respondents.
| Variables | Frequency (n = 303) | Percent (%) |
| Age (years) | Mean ± SD | 22.61 ± 2.35 | | <20 | 8 | 2.6 | 20–24 | 243 | 80.2 | 25+ | 52 | 17.16 | Marital status | Single | 277 | 91.4 | Married | 26 | 8.6 | Have given birth before | No | 280 | 92.4 | Yes | 23 | 7.6 | Age at first menstruation (years) | 9–11 | 13 | 4.3 | 12–14 | 171 | 56.4 | 15+ | 119 | 39.3 | Nature of menstrual cycles | Regular | 235 | 77.6 | Irregular | 68 | 22.4 | Duration of menstruation (days) | 1–3 | 39 | 12.9 | 4–5 | 172 | 56.8 | >5 | 92 | 30.4 | Blood flow during menstruation | Normal bleeding (7–10 pads used) | 230 | 75.9 | Abundant bleeding (>10 pads used) | 45 | 14.9 | Reduced bleeding (7 pads used) | 28 | 9.2 | Respondents’ history of some gynecological conditions | Gynecological surgeries | 5 | 1.7 | Genital malformation | 2 | 0.7 | Vaginal candidiasis | 68 | 22.4 | Urinary tract infections | 27 | 8.9 | Respondents’ previous diagnosis | Endometriosis | 6 | 2.0 | Polycystic ovary syndrome | 2 | 0.7 | Pelvic inflammatory disease | 13 | 4.3 | Previously treated for Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae | No | 281 | 92.7 | Yes | 22 | 7.3 | Result of the Papanicolaou test | Normal | 34 | 11.2 | Inflammation | 3 | 1.0 | Never took this test | 266 | 87.8 | Sexual activity | Active | 194 | 64.0 | Inactive | 109 | 36.0 | Contraceptive use | Oral contraceptives | 86 | 28.4 | IUD | 4 | 1.3 | Coitus interruptus | 25 | 8.3 | Pain during sexual intercourse | No | 239 | 78.9 | Yes | 64 | 21.1 | Sexual intercourse during menstruation | | No | 276 | 91.1 | Yes | 7 | 2.3 | Occasionally | 20 | 6.6 | Premenstrual syndrome | No | 35 | 11.5 | Yes | 229 | 75.6 | Occasionally | 39 | 12.9 | Regular physical activity | No | 138 | 45.5 | Yes | 165 | 54.5 | Sleep duration (hours) | <5 | 107 | 35.3 | 5–9 | 175 | 57.8 | 10+ | 21 | 6.9 | Family history of dysmenorrhea | No | 191 | 63.0 | Yes | 112 | 37.0 |
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Source: field data (2022).
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