article · Frontiers in Global Women s Health
A cross-sectional investigation assessed the prevalence and drivers of menstrual cycle irregularity among female college students in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. Drawing data from 395 participants, the study determined that 33.4 percent experienced irregular menstrual cycles. Several biological and lifestyle factors showed statistically significant links to the condition. Students aged under 20 years and those who experienced menarche at or before age 12 faced higher likelihoods of irregular cycles. In addition, behavioural and physical factors, including sleeping five hours or fewer per night, perceived stress, and being overweight, doubled the odds of experiencing menstrual disruption. Addressing these issues through weight management, stress reduction, and adequate sleep, potentially supported by time management training, could help improve menstrual health and reduce related challenges such as academic absenteeism and reduced concentration among college populations.
Menstrual irregularities disrupt daily life, causing anxiety, premenstrual distress, reduced concentration, and academic absenteeism among young women. Identifying the prevalence and lifestyle factors associated with these problems provides educators, healthcare practitioners, and institutional leaders with evidence to design supportive campus health interventions, promoting better academic engagement, sleep habits, and overall wellbeing for female students in higher education settings.
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Background Menstrual irregularity can occur at any age, but it is most common among women under the age of 23 years. Menstrual irregularity is a foremost gynecological problem and a cause of anxiety to students and those close to them. These students experience monthly absenteeism, premenstrual symptoms, and a lack of concentration due to menstrual problems, all of which interfere with their education. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of menstrual irregularity and associated factors among college students in Debre Berhan Town, North Shewa, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, in 2021. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2021 in Debre Berhan town. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires in 420 eligible female college students by systematic random sampling technique. Weight and height were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated after data collection. Each questionnaire was checked for completeness, cleaned, coded, entered into EPI-DATA, and then transported to SPSS software. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the association of each independent variable with the dependent variable. P ≤ 0.05 were used to declare association and select predictors. Results In the current study, 395 students participated with a response rate of 93.6%. Of all the total respondents, the magnitude of menstrual cycle irregularity was 33.4% (95% CI 28.6–38.2). Age < 20 years old [AOR = 3.88, 95% CI (1.25–12.18)], age of menarche ≤ 12 years [AOR = 4, 95% CI (1.18–13.9), sleeping hours ≤ 5 h [AOR= 2.26, 95% CI (1.04–4.93)], perceived stress [AOR = 2, 95% CI (1.53–3.23)] and being overweight [AOR = 2, 95% CI (1.13–3.23) were the variables significantly associated with the magnitude of menstrual irregularity. Conclusion and recommendation This study shows that more than one-third of the college students in Debre Berhan town have experienced menstrual irregularity. Being less than 20 years old, having a history of early menarche, being overweight, and perceived stress were a variable significantly associated with menstrual irregularity. To control menstrual irregularity, girls should control their weight and lead a healthy lifestyle, including getting adequate sleep which could be aided by training on time management.
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DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.917643
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