Menstrual problems and their prevalence among adolescents in Akwa Ibom

Dysmenorrhoea, premenstrual syndrome and menstrual hygiene are leading contributors to the burden of disease borne by adolescent secondary school girls and this study sought to determine the prevalence of menstruationrelated problems among adolescent school girls in southern Nigeria. A crosssectional study design was used with a minimum sample size of 601 derived over 4 different centres (2 rural and 2 urban) using a multi-stage sampling technique. Analysis was done using SPSS version 17, and Odds ratio, Chi square and t test were used to compare possible differences between urban and rural variables and significance was at the 95% confidence level. Tables were used to highlight the results obtained. Menstrual problems of public health importance such as dysmenorrhoea, heavy bleeding and weakness, and premenstrual symptoms were a burden to adolescent school girls in both rural and urban areas in this study. A renewed approach to adolescent health provision will help negate the negative developmental, educational and socioeconomic consequences of their menstrual problems. KEYWORDS