Knowledge, Attitudes and Severity of Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome in a sample of Medical and Nursing Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Menstruation has important implications on the physical, psychological, behavioral and emotional well being of adolescent's reproductive health. The purpose of this research was:-To analyze the frequency and severity of the various PMS symptoms in a sample of young female students. To evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) from an ethnically mixed group of rural and urban girls. To provide insight into menstrual related education information in order to keep adolescent girls manage the physical and psychological changes associated with menstruation. This cross-sectional study was performed on 498 medical and nursing students in the age group of 16-24 years, recruited from different medical and nursing colleges of Punjab after taking informed consent. They filled different questionnaires covering American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) criteria to diagnose PMS, demographic and reproductive factors, physical activity and mental condition. Using ACOG diagnostic criteria, statistically a highly significant difference was found among mild, moderate and severe grade of premenstrual symptoms. Also, the frequency distribution of different PMS symptoms was evidenced more in the younger age group (< 20 years) as compared to older age group (>= 20 years). The study calls for an education program related to PMS and menstrual related disorders to provide information and support to adolescents. This will help them to cope better with menstrual-related problems.