A cramping conundrum: Awareness, impact, and treatment-seeking behavior regarding dysmenorrhea among college students in central Kerala

Abstract

Background: Characterized by severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and thighs, dysmenorrhea can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life, especially during her college years. Despite the significant impact, many girls hesitate to seek help for dysmenorrhea due to various factors such as normalization of menstrual pain, limited access to healthcare, social stigma, embarrassment and lack of awareness. By recognizing its prevalence, understanding its impact, and exploring effective management strategies, we can empower young women to navigate their menstrual cycles with confidence and achieve their full potential. Objective: To assess the awareness, impact and treatment seeking behaviour regarding Dysmenorrhea among college students in central Kerala. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted among 258 young women aged between 18 and 35 years in Pathanamthitta district from July to December 2023. Knowledge regarding Dysmenorrhoea was scored. The proportion of dysmenorrhea, the impact of Dysmenorrhoea and the management strategies of dysmenorrhea were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: The overall prevalence of good knowledge about dysmenorrhea was 27% among study participants. The proportion of study participants suffering from dysmenorrhea was 78%. Majority of the study participants resorted to bed rest (40%) to tide through their menstrual pain. Conclusion: Raising the awareness among the youth could empower them to manage their pain effectively and recognize atypical symptoms earlier in time allowing for timely diagnosis and effective treatment.

Keywords

• dysmenorrhea
• kerala
• knowledge
• young adults