Self-medication in Primary Dysmenorrhea among Medical and Nursing Undergraduate Students of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Jyoti Prabha Bharati Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Sanjay Ulak Department of Paediatrics, Bhaktapur Hospital, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Merina Vaidya Shrestha Department of Community medicine, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Sanjay Mani Dixit Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Anna Acharya Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot, Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Ashish Bhattarai Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot, Bhaktapur, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.6397

Keywords:

awareness, dysmenorrhea, menstrual cycle, self-medications

Abstract

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological problems among adolescent females. It is defined as painful menses in women with normal pelvic anatomy, usually beginning during adolescence. This study aims to find out prevalence of self-medication practice in primary dysmenorrhea among medical and nursing undergraduate students.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from November 2020 to March 2021 after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Convenient sampling technique was used. A total of 269 female medical and nursing students with complaints of dysmenorrhea were enrolled and the remedial methods used by them such as self-medication, medical advice and home remedies for dysmenorrhea were asked using an online questionnaire delivered to participants. Data analysis was done in the Statistical Package of Social Sciences. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.

Results: Self-medication practice for dysmenorrhea was reported in 175 (65%) of students. The prevalence of mild or moderate pain was commonly present in age group 21-25 years. commonly used for self-medication was mefenamic acid 121 (48%), followed by ibuprofen 51 (20.3%) and paracetamol 41 (16.3%).

Conclusions: Self- medication practice among medical and nursing undergraduate students is high despite awareness of adverse effects.

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Published

2021-07-01

How to Cite

Prabha Bharati, J., Ulak, S., Vaidya Shrestha, M., Mani Dixit, S., Acharya, A., & Bhattarai, A. (2021). Self-medication in Primary Dysmenorrhea among Medical and Nursing Undergraduate Students of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 59(238), 537–541. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.6397

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 238 (2021): JNMA: Published Monthly

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2021 Jyoti Prabha Bharati, Sanjay Ulak, Merina Vaidya Shrestha, Sanjaya Mani Dixit, Anna Acharya, Ashish Bhattarai

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