Publication: Self-medication in Primary Dysmenorrhea among Undergraduate Students in a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation in women with normal pelvic anatomy, usually beginning during adolescence, primarily associated with a normal ovulatory cycle. There is an increased likelihood of self-medication among medical students. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of self-medication in primary dysmenorrhea among undergraduate students in a medical college.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical college among undergraduate female students with primary dysmenorrhea from 1 February 2022 to 31 May 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of the same institute (Reference number: 254/2021). Convenience sampling was done. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Among 213 students with primary dysmenorrhea, self-medication was found to be in 78 (36.62%) (30.15-43.09, 95% Confidence Interval)). Among all the self-medications used, mefenamic acid was most common, used by 45 (57.69%) students, followed by paracetamol 11 (14.10%).
Conclusions: The prevalence of self-medication practice in primary dysmenorrhea among undergraduate students was lower when compared to similar studies done in similar settings.
Description
Authors
Ruchi Shrestha
Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Mukta Singh Bhandari
Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Sony Shakya Shrestha
Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Jyoti Tara Manandhar Shrestha
Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Upama Shrestha
Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Dysmenorrhea, Menstruation, Prevalence, Self-medication