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Case-control study, 2023

Does premenstrual syndrome affect school attendance and grades?

Yes, PMS was strongly linked to school absences and lower grades. About 44.2% of students with PMS missed school because of it.

Moderate study design 300 female secondary school students in Kaduna State, Nigeria (average age 16 years)

What they did

Researchers studied 300 female high school students in Nigeria during March 2021. They compared those with and without PMS symptoms and asked about school absences and academic grades.

What they found

About 75.3% of students had PMS. Of those with PMS, 44.2% were absent from school at some point due to PMS. Tension and mood swings were most linked to absences. PMS was also linked to lower grades in reading, homework, and tests.

What it means for you

PMS is common in teenage girls and directly affects school attendance and grades. Schools may need policies to support girls during their menstrual cycle. The study was done in Nigeria only, so findings may not apply to other countries.

75.3%

of students had PMS

44.2%

of students with PMS were absent from school

226

students with PMS (out of 300)

About the study

Original title
Effect of premenstrual syndrome on school absenteeism and academic performance amongst female secondary school students in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors
Aisha Suleiman, Anisah Yahya, Adekunle Oguntayo
Journal
Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
Year
2023
Study design
Case-control study
Participants
300
What was tested
None - observational study
Open access
Yes

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