Physical Activity Level and Adiposity: Are they Associated with Primary Dysmenorrhea in School Adolescents?

Information on self-reported physical activity (PA) level in association with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is not readily available on African populations, and there is a dearth of information on the association of adiposity with PD. This study explored the association of PA and adiposity indices with PD and associated menstrual pain. This cross-sectional study involved 1383 female adolescents from 12 randomly selected secondary schools (9 private and 3 public schools). They were categorized into <1 hour/day or ≥ 1 hour/day of PA based on their reported average duration of PA per day. The adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)] was assessed using standardized procedures. Majority of participants (85.4%) in this study sample reported experiencing PD. More participants without PD engaged in PA for more than one hour daily than those with PD (X2=11.49; p=0.001). The participants with PD experienced menstrual pain mostly (55.1%) during menstruation and the mostly reported pain intensity was moderate (38.7%). Majority of those (80.5%) who had menstrual pain did not report using medication for the pain. 77.0% of those who used medication reported having pain relief. Waist circumference, BMI and PA level showed no independent association (p>0.05) with either PD or its pain intensity experienced among the adolescents. PA level and adiposity are not associated with PD in school adolescents. Keywords: Adiposity, Primary Dysmenorrhea, Physical Activity, Adolescence (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 167-174

Physical Activity Level and Adiposity: Are they Associated with Primary Dysmenorrhea in School Adolescents?

Information on self-reported physical activity (PA) level in association with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is not readily available on African populations, and there is a dearth of information on the association of adiposity with PD. This study explored the association of PA and adiposity indices with PD and associated menstrual pain. This cross-sectional study involved 1383 female adolescents from 12 randomly selected secondary schools (9 private and 3 public schools). They were categorized into <1 hour/day or ≥ 1 hour/day of PA based on their reported average duration of PA per day. The adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)] was assessed using standardized procedures. Majority of participants (85.4%) in this study sample reported experiencing PD. More participants without PD engaged in PA for more than one hour daily than those with PD (X2=11.49; p=0.001). The participants with PD experienced menstrual pain mostly (55.1%) during menstruation and the mostly reported pain intensity was moderate (38.7%). Majority of those (80.5%) who had menstrual pain did not report using medication for the pain. 77.0% of those who used medication reported having pain relief. Waist circumference, BMI and PA level showed no independent association (p>0.05) with either PD or its pain intensity experienced among the adolescents. PA level and adiposity are not associated with PD in school adolescents.Les informations sur le niveau d&apos;activité physique auto-déclarée (AP) en association avec la dysménorrhée primaire (DP) par rapport aux populations africaines ne sont pas facilement disponibles et il y a un manque d&apos;informations sur l&apos;association de l&apos;adiposité avec la DP. Cette étude a exploré l&apos;association de l’AP et des indices d&apos;adiposité avec la DP et les douleurs menstruelles associées. Cette étude transversale a impliqué 1 383 adolescentes de 12 écoles secondaires choisies au hasard (9 écoles publiques, et 3 écoles privées). EIles ont été classées en < 1 heure / jour ou ≥ 1 heure / jour de AP en fonction de leur durée moyenne déclarée de AP par jour. L&apos;adiposité [indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et le tour de taille (TT) ] ont été évalués à l’aide des procédures standardisées. La majorité des participants (85,4%) de l&apos;échantillon de l&apos;étude ont déclaré avoir subi la DP. Plus de participants sans DP étaient engagés dans la AD pendant plus d&apos;une heure par jour que ceux DP (X2 = 11,49, p = 0,001). Les participants DP ont connu surtout les douleurs menstruelles (55,1%) pendant la menstruation et l&apos;intensité de la douleur souvent rapporté a été modérée ( 38,7%) . La majorité d&apos;entre elle (0,5%) qui ont eu la douleur menstruelle n&apos;ont pas signalé l&apos;utilisation de médicaments contre la douleur. 77,0% de ceux qui ont utilisé des médicaments ont déclaré avoir été soulagées. Le tour de taille, l&apos;IMC et le niveau d’AP n’ont pas montré une association (p > 0,05) avec soit la DP soit son intensité de douleur ressentie chez les adolescents. Le niveau d&apos;AP et de l’adiposité ne sont pas associés à la DP chez les adolescents qui fréquentent école