Differences in pattern of menstruation between Kaduna and Rivers State Women of Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to investigate and compare the menarcheal age, menstrual cycle regularity, menstrual flow duration, prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and symptoms during menstruation (SDM), in women from Kaduna and Rivers states, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Nonpregnant, nulliparous women from Rivers (n = 401, mean ± SD: 22.55 ± 3.78) and Kaduna (n = 387, mean 22.10 ± SD 2.62) states aged 18-30 years participated in the study. Subjects were randomly selected from some higher institutions in Kaduna and Rivers states. Data were obtained using a self-administered, structured questionnaire. Results: The mean age at menarche was higher in Rivers women than in their Kaduna counterparts, but there was no significant difference. The minimum and maximum menarcheal ages for this study were 10 years and 19 years respectively. The results showed that 311 (80.4%) of Kaduna females and 288 (71.8%) of Rivers females experienced regular menstrual cycles; 245 (63.3%) of Kaduna females and 324 (80.8%) of Rivers females experienced a menstrual flow duration of 4-6 days. Most of the study participants experienced at least one premenstrual symptom (Kaduna: 387 or 100%; Rivers: 366 or 91.3%) and one SDM (Kaduna: 36 or; 95.1%; Rivers 397 or 99%); the comparison of PMS and SDM between subjects from the two states showed a significant difference (c2 = 35.348, P = 0.000; and c2 = 10.637, P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: A difference was observed between the menstrual patterns of women from Kaduna and Rivers states.