Assessing Knowledge and Practice Regarding the Management of Dysmenorrhea Among Students at University of Namibia Rundu Campus

BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynaecological condition that affects the daily activities of the women who suffer from it. In the education context, female students often have to spend long hours at clinics or doctors’ appointments due to dysmenorrhoea, thus having to miss lectures when dysmenorrhea impacts adversely on their studies and academic performance. Purpose: This study sought to determine the knowledge and practice of female students at the University of Namibia, Rundu campus regarding the management of dysmenorrhea

METHODOLOGY: A quantitative study was employed using a non-experimental, cross-sectional approach. The non-probability sampling method was used with convenient sampling being employed. A total of 303 fulltime female students from the University of Namibia, Rundu Campus were selected to participate in the study. Of the 303 students selected 295 completed the open-ended questionnaires which they were given. The data from the questionnaires was analysed manually and the findings presented in the form of tables, graphs and pie charts.

RESULTS: The study found that dysmenorrhea was affecting 88.1% of the students at the University of Namibia, Rundu Campus. In addition, there was evidently a lack of knowledge on the management of dysmenorrhea, as 46% only of the participants appeared to possess adequate knowledge on the management of dysmenorrhea. The study also found that approximately 54.2% of the participants sought medical assistance when experiencing dysmenorrhea, 30.8% used home remedies of which 91.3% were effective, 12.3% used traditional herbs of which 90.6% were effective, while 25.3% exercised or did other activities in order to relieve pain.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that dysmenorrhea was affecting the majority of female students on Rundu Campus although only a few of them possessed adequate knowledge on the management of dysmenorrhea and only about half (46%) of the respondents sought medical help. Recommendation: The findings indicated the need for the university to build a clinic on campus and to organise student wellness programmes which included the management of dysmenorrhoea.