| الوصف: |
Background This study aimed to determine menstrual characteristics and related morbidities among adolescent girls living in Sabah, North Borneo, the poorest state in Malaysia. Methods Data was obtained from a quantitative survey conducted in three government high schools located in Ranau, Sabah. The participants were adolescent girls who had attained menarche between the ages of 14 and 19 years. Results Based on the analysis of questionnaires completed by 757 adolescent girls, the mean age at the time of the survey was 17 ± 1.4, and the mean menarche age was 12.2 ± 1.1. Our data demonstrated that 85.7% of the participants experienced dysmenorrhea, of which at least 42% (mean pain score ± SD: 4.81 ± 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.7, 4.9) experienced moderate dysmenorrhea and 11.3% (mean pain score ± SD: 7.86 ± 0.97, 95% CI: 7.6, 8.1) experienced severe dysmenorrhea. More than 70% of these girls complained of tiredness, headaches, and changes in appetite during menses. Conclusions The prevalence of menstrual disorders and related morbidities was high among girls residing in Sabah. Reproductive health issues in rural and socioeconomically deprived areas remain poorly addressed. The main consequences of neglecting menstrual disorders and their related morbidities are impaired future sexual reproductive health as adults. Hence, addressing adolescent reproductive health issues is crucial, especially for girls living in areas where healthcare accessibility is difficult. The information gathered from this study is can be used to strategize an effective intervention to improve adolescents' reproductive health status in rural areas. |
