Association Between Dysmenorrhea and Body Mass Index among Adolescent Girls in Dorayi Karama Secondary School, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea has long been tolerated by females of reproductive age as a necessary catastrophe to tolerate and live with. Majority of the females either stem the tide of the pains by coping with it or using remedies suggested by family and friends as well as physicians. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to find the relationship between dysmenorrhea and body mass index among adolescent girls in Dorayi Karama Secondary School of Kano state, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional type conducted among 405 adolescent girls. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 25. Logistic regression was used to find the association between dysmenorrhea and body mass index. The height was measured in centimeter (cm) using standard protocol. The body weight of the participants were measured using a weight balance in kilograms by asking the participants to stand with their feet together on the flat panel provided on the weight scale without heavy garments and shoes. The heights, weights and menstrual history details of the participants were recorded on a proforma. Results: The results showed a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among the study participants and a menarchial age of 13.24 ± 1.16 years were some of the key findings of the current study. In addition, the role of menarchial age, family history of dysmenorrhea, waist circumference and/or waist-hip ratio were identified as central predictors for the development of dysmenorrhea. There was no significant association between body mass index and dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study established no relationship between dysmenorrhea with body mass index among the adolescent girls of Dorayi Karama Secondary school of Kano State.