Survey study, 2018
How common is PMS among female university students in Nigeria?
Very common. In this study, 42.9% of students met the criteria for PMS, and almost half of those (47.6%) had severe PMS or PMDD.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 480 female students aged 15 to 45 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Each student filled in the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences (COPE) form over two menstrual cycles to check for PMS and PMDD.
What they found
206 of 480 students (42.9%) met the criteria for PMS; 274 (57.1%) did not. Among those with PMS, 98 (47.6%) had severe PMS or PMDD. The most common symptoms were trouble concentrating (85.0%), irritability (79.2%), abdominal bloating (75.3%), aches and pains (70.0%), mood swings (69.2%), breast tenderness (69.2%), and food cravings (68.0%).
What it means for you
PMS and PMDD affect a large share of female students in this Nigerian setting, especially concentration, mood, and bloating symptoms. The main limits are that it is a one-time snapshot (cross-sectional) at a single university with no comparison group, so it cannot show cause or whether other groups of women have similar rates.
42.9%
Students who met criteria for PMS
47.6%
Of those with PMS, had severe PMS or PMDD
85.0%
Had trouble concentrating (most common symptom)
About the study
- Original title
- Assessment of premenstrual syndrome among female students in Southeast Nigeria
- Authors
- Kelechi Martins Nworie, Deborah Oyine Aluh, Chinyere Abigail Onyekwum
- Journal
- Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecological Investigations
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 480
- What was tested
- None; this was an observational survey using a symptom diary (COPE form), not a treatment test.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5114/jogi.2018.79426
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