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Survey study, 2020

How common is PMDD among secondary school students in Ethiopia?

76.9% of students reported PMDD symptoms. But only 7.4% had experienced symptoms for three or more consecutive cycles, which is needed for an actual diagnosis. 13.1% had a family history of these symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 351 female students from one secondary school in Hawassa, Ethiopia

What they did

351 female students from Hawassa Tabor Secondary and Preparatory School were randomly selected. They completed a structured questionnaire about premenstrual symptoms.

What they found

76.9% of students reported symptoms in the five days before menstruation. 92.3% reported experiencing unpleasant physical or emotional symptoms. Only 26 students (7.4%) had symptoms for three or more consecutive cycles, which meets diagnostic criteria for PMDD. 46 students (13.1%) had a family history of PMDD symptoms.

What it means for you

Many young people report premenstrual symptoms, but far fewer meet the strict criteria for a PMDD diagnosis (which requires symptoms to recur in multiple consecutive cycles). Family history appears to play a role. This study is from one school in Ethiopia, so results may not apply elsewhere.

76.9%

students with reported PMDD symptoms

7.4%

students meeting full PMDD diagnosis criteria

13.1%

students with family history of symptoms

About the study

Original title
Prevalence of Premenstrial Disphoric Disorder Associated Factors among Students of Tabor Secondary and Preparatory School in Hawassa City, Ethiopia Cross Sectional
Authors
Tadesse MG, Dire DD, Abraham YY
Journal
Research Square
Year
2020
Study design
Survey study
Participants
351
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Abstract Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)-is a severe and disabling form of premenstrual Syndrome affecting 3-8% of menstruating women. The disorder consists of a cluster of affective, behavioral and somatic symptoms that recur monthly during the luteal phase the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) was added to the list of depressive disorders in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in 2013. The exact pathogenesis of the disorder is still unclear. Objective: To assess the prevalence of PMDD and its associated factors among students of Hawassa tabor secondary and preparatory school. Method: A cross sectional institutional based was conducted among 351 randomly selected female students of Hawassa tabor school. Data was collected by three students were facilitate the works with closed ended structured questionnaire and they was trained on how to collect the data. The collected data was entered, analyzed and cleaned by SPS. Results: prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in this study was 76.9%. Of each symptom is more than ninety present or 324 (92.3%) respondents can’t have experience unpleasant physical or emotional symptoms peculiar to the five days before the onset of menses & 27(7.7%) participants have show the symptoms. Among those 26 (7.4%) have present for the past ≥3 consecutive cycles. 46 (13.1%) have family history of such symptoms. Conclusions: These findings have implications for both women and medical providers, who should be aware that PMS symptoms are prevalent and often distressing, yet also understand that the severity of symptoms may remit over time.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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