ESPE Abstracts

Background: The aim of this study is to determine menstruating girls’ sectional characteristics and the frequency of the menstrual problems.

Method: The study was done in randomly selected primary, junior and high schools at Kayseri Province between December 2014–March 2015. After obtaining the permits adolescent girls in 9–18 age groups were included in the study. Following preliminary information, informed consent forms and questionnaires were distributed. Participants were asked about epidemiological characteristics of menstruation and accompanying problems. The questionnaires were then evaluated.

Results: This study consists of equal number of participants (n=2000) from all age groups. 63.7% of girls (n=1274) had started menstruating. It was found that the mean age at menarche was 12.74±1.03 years, the mean menstrual cycle length was 28.1±5.7 days, duration of menstrual flow was 5.9±1.4 days and number of pad used per day during period was 3.4±1.3. With a prevalence of 84.8% (n=1080), dysmenorrhea was the most prevalent menstrual disorder and the average pain score of dysmenorrhea was 5.87±2.45. Of menstruating girls, 34% (n=439) were found to use painkillers, the common one was paracetamol;during this period the prevalence of non-medical methods to relieve pain was 35.2%; the rate of seeking medical help for dysmenorrhea was 9.3% (n=119). Of participants 90.8% were discussing their menstrual problems with their mothers. In menstruating girls, the rate of school absenteeism was 15.9% as general and 18% in the group with dysmenorrhea. Of participants 5.2% (n=104) reported having hypertrichosis and 40.9% (n=818) of them have acne problems.

Conclusion: Problems related to menstruation are common in adolescents and affects their social life. In adolescent girls the most common menstrual problem is dysmenorrhea and it affects school performance and attendance and those with menstrual problems showed a low rate of seeking medical help.