Abstract
BACKGROUND: Menstrual problems are one of the leading health issues worldwide. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual symptoms (PMS) in adolescent schoolgirls in Almatamah, Sudan. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, menstrual cycle parameters, and accompanying symptoms. We also measured girls' body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin levels. Multivariate binary regression was performed. RESULTS: Of the 162 girls surveyed, 21.0% had HMB, 56.8% had dysmenorrhea, and 30.2% had PMS. 13% of the girls reported that the symptoms interfered with their daily activities, and 17.3% reported seeking medical attention. In logistic regression analysis, increasing gynecological age was associated with HMB [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20-2.38), and dysmenorrhea (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.12-2.14). Gynecological age was not associated with PMS, seeking medical attention, and interference with daily activities. Chronological age, maternal education, and BMI were not associated with menstrual abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, PMS, and HMB was high in Sudanese adolescent school girls but lower than most studies from other countries. We recommend encouraging female adolescents to chart their menstrual pattern and implementing education and counselling towards the reproductive health issues.