Prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students: A cross sectional study.
STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students in Hunan Province, China. DESIGN A cross sectional study SETTING: Female university students in Changsha city, Hunan province, China PARTICIPANTS: 4,606 female individuals selected by a multistage cluster random sampling method INTERVENTIONS: A self administered questionnaire, which included socio demographic information, lifestyle habits and emotional characteristics, menstruation pattern, was used to collect data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Information about menarche, body mass index, cycle length and regularity, primary dysmenorrhea, physical exercise,depression and anxiety. RESULTS The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was 41.7% among Chinese female university students. Multivariate binary logistic regression indicated that being a minority (OR=1.335, 95%CI: 1.083,1.646) underweight (OR=1.249, 95%CI: 1.08,1.42) annual household income <80,000 CNY (OR=1.169, 1.018,1.342) maternal history of dysmenorrhea (OR=2.553,95%CI: 2.236,2.915) age at menarche <12 years (OR=1.161, 95% 1.013,1.329) irregular menstrual cycle (OR=1.216, 95%CI: 1.063, 1.391) and skipping breakfast (OR=1.294, 95%CI:1.124, 1.490) were associated risk factors of primary dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese university students is relatively high. Various risk factors were identified that associated with primary dysmenorrhea. More effort and attention should therefore be directed toward this health problem in China.
Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology