KNOWLEDGE OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE AS A DYSMENORRHEA PREVENTION METHOD AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES IN UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is a common gynaecologic complaint among young girls and women. Depending on its duration and severity, it has negative impacts on normal daily activities and quality of life of women. The manner in which females attempt to manage the problem is of less concern in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the knowledge of physical exercise as an effective dysmenorrhea prevention method among female undergraduates residing in University of Ibadan female halls. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 320 consenting female students aged 16-29 years that were residents of the four female undergraduate halls within the campus, namely; Queen Elizabeth II hall, Queen Idia hall, Obafemi Awolowo hall and Alexander Brown hall. A four stage sampling technique which involved simple random selection of students from each hall was used. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire with six (6) sections and items was used to elicit information from the participants. Knowledge was measured on a 10-point scale; score ≥8 was classified as good, ≥4.5-8 as fair and <4 as poor. Level of participation in physical exercise was measured on 3- point scale; ˂1.5 was classified as low, ≥1.2-2.5 as fair and ≥2.5 high. Data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p˂0.05 level of significance. The mean age of the respondent were 20.3±2.3 years. Majority (24.5%) of the respondents were in 100 level. Most of the respondents were Christians (84.1%). Yoruba constituted the majority of the respondents (74.1%). Majority of the respondents (87.8%) reported lower abdomen as their site of pain while just a few (12.2%) did not report or indicate it as their site of pain. In terms of prevention method adopted by respondents majority 192 (60.0%) make use of modern medicines in managing dysmenorrhea. Aside the use of medicines as a means of managing dysmenorrhea, the respondents reported employing the following management patterns: about 33.8% reported adopting massage on the waist and lower back as a management pattern of dysmenorrhea, 17.8% use heating pads and hot water bottles while 31.9% adopt hot showers during periods to reduce dysmenorrhea, 4.1% use traditional herbs in form of tea while 30.9% take hot fluids. However, only 25.3% of respondents confirmed adopting exercise as their own management pattern. Overall level of knowlede of physical exercise as a dysmnorrhea prevention method was determined to be poor with a mean score of 3.78±1.6. Respondents, (13.8%) had good knowledge of physical exercise as a dysmenorrhea prevention method while 28.1% of the respondents had fair knowledge and 58.1% poor knowledge. Also, level of participation in physical exercise to relief dysmenorrhea was determined to be low (57.8%). From the study, poor knowledge of physical exercise as a dysmenorrhea prevention method was documented among the study population. Health education can be used to motivate female students on the benefits of regular exercise to reduce the burden of dysmenorrhea to ensure the health of women