Pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of dysmenorrhea among senior high school girls in two districts in the Central Region of Ghana

Q: What was the aim of the study on dysmenorrhea management?

To examine predictors of pharmacological versus non-pharmacological management practices among school-going female adolescents in Ghana.

Q: How was the study conducted and who participated?

A cross-sectional survey recruited 490 female students aged 13–24 years from two senior high schools using simple random sampling.

Q: What factors were associated with choosing pharmacological management?

Dysmenorrhea experience and pain intensity were significantly associated, with moderate and severe pain increasing the likelihood of medication use.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Ben

Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent menstrual health challenge among adolescents, commonly addressed using pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Predictors shaping adolescents’ selection between these strategies remain unclear, especially where traditional and modern practices coexist. This cross-sectional study assessed predictors of management practices among 490 female students aged 13–24 years from two senior high schools in Ghana’s Central Region, using structured questionnaires and logistic regression analysis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Definitions and prevalence of dysmenorrhea

Menstrual health challenges in low- and middle-income settings

Context in Ghana and existing initiatives

Pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of dysmenorrhea among senior high school girls in two districts in the Central Region of Ghana Dorothy Serwaa Boakye 1, Vida Maame Kissiwaa Amoah2, Beatrice Nyamekye Baidoo 1, Wisdom Kwaku Amuka Achiam 1 and Emmanuel Kumah 1 SAGE Open Medicine Volume 14: 1–12 © The Author(s) 2026 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/20503121251409314](DOI: 10.1177/20503121251409314)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/20503121251409314)[journals.sagepub.com/home/smo](journals.sagepub.com/home/smo) Abstract Background: Dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual health problem among adolescents, often managed through pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. However, the factors that predict adolescents’ choice between these management approaches remain poorly understood, particularly in settings where traditional and modern practices coexist. This study examined the predictors of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management practices among school-going female adolescents in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 490 female students aged 13–24 years in 2 senior high schools within the Effutu and Agona West Municipalities. Participants were recruited using simple random sampling. For minors (aged 13–17 years), written informed consent was obtained from Legally Authorized Representatives and written assent from participants; adult participants (aged 18–24 years) provided written informed consent directly. Exclusion criteria included diagnosed gynecological disorders, inability to provide informed assent or parental/guardian consent, and cognitive impairments. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 82.4%. Pharmacological management was significantly associated with dysmenorrhea experience (χ2 = 11 .51, p = 0.003). Pain intensity emerged as a strong predictor, with adolescents reporting moderate (Exp(B) = 1.7, p = 0.03) and severe pain (Exp(B) = 2.42, p < 0.01) more likely to use medications. Non-pharmacological practices were significantly associated with program of study (χ2 = 28.75, p = 0.001), while demographic factors showed no significant associations. Conclusion: Pain severity drives pharmacological management, whereas educational exposure influences non-pharmacological choices. Comprehensive menstrual health education is needed across academic programs to promote effective, evidencebased management of dysmenorrhea among adolescents in Ghana. Keywords Dysmenorrhea, management practices, pharmacological, non-pharmacological, adolescent girls Received: 15 September 2025; accepted: 5 December 2025 Introduction Dysmenorrhea, defined as painful menstrual cramps originating from uterine contractions, is one of the most prevalent gynecological concerns affecting adolescent girls and young women globally.1 Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in the absence of pelvic pathology and typically begins within 3 years of menarche, often persisting throughout adolescence.2 The condition has gained increasing attention in 1 Department of Health Administration and Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana 2Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Corresponding author: Emmanuel Kumah, Department of Health Administration and Education, University of Education, Winneba, P. O. Box 25, Winneba, Ghana. Email: [ababiohemmanuel@gmail.com](ababiohemmanuel@gmail.com) Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distributi

FAQs

What was the aim of the study on dysmenorrhea management?

To examine predictors of pharmacological versus non-pharmacological management practices among school-going female adolescents in Ghana.

How was the study conducted and who participated?

A cross-sectional survey recruited 490 female students aged 13–24 years from two senior high schools using simple random sampling.

What factors were associated with choosing pharmacological management?

Dysmenorrhea experience and pain intensity were significantly associated, with moderate and severe pain increasing the likelihood of medication use.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Ben