European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals

Age at Menarche, Current Premenstrual Syndrome and
Health Risk Behaviour of Young People in Ibadan, Nigeria 349
Table 3: Premenstrual syndrome among female students of a tertiary institution in Ibadan, Nigeria
n=500
Premenstrual syndrome Have it (%) Do not have it (%)
Feeling weak 73.6% 26.4%
Fainting 71.4% 28.6%
Irritable/Touchy 91.8% 08.2%
Pain 84.4% 15.6%
Breast tenderness 62.8% 37.2%
Desire to eat food 68.6% 31.4%
Water retention (stomach/feet/hand) 73.8% 28.0%
Anxiety 85.8% 14.2%
Dizziness 66.4% 33.6%
Headache 84.6% 15.4%
Fatigue 78.2% 21.8%
Physical Discomfort 83.4% 16.6%
Lowered self-esteem 80.6% 19.4%
Sleep disturbances 87.4% 12.6%
Sensitivity to light 82.2% 17.8%
Not wanting to eat 87.6% 12.4%
Table 4: Health risk behaviour of female students of a tertiary institution in Ibadan, Nigeria within the last one
year
n=500
At risk behaviour Yes (%) No (%)
High salt intake 86.8 13.2
*Deliberate engagement in exercise/physical activity 90.2 9.8
Drink alcohol 77.4 22.6
*Take time to relax 92.6 7.4
Drink coffee 68.0 32.0
Engagement in premarital sex 73.8 26.2
Procument of abortion 88.8 11.2
* Positive health behaviour
Age at Menarche
Of the 500 study participants in table 2: 5.6% had menarche ≤ 10 years, 73.0% 11-15 years, 20.8% 16-
20 years and 0.6% 21 years and above. This shows that majority of them had menarche between 11 and
15 years.
Premenstrual Syndrome
Of the 500 study participants in table 3: more than 50.0% experienced one form of symptom of
premenstrual syndrome or the other in this descending order; irritable/touchy 91.8%, not wanting to eat
87.6%, sleep disturbances 87.4%, anxiety 85.8%, headache 84.6%, pain 84.4%, physical discomfort
83.4%, sensitivity to light 82.2%, lowered self esteem 80.6%, fatigue 78.2%, feeling weak 73.6%,
water retention 72.0%, fainting 71.4%, desire to eat food 68.6%, dizziness 66.4% and breast tenderness
62.8%.
Health Risk Behaviour
Out of the 500 study participants in table 4: 88.8% had procured abortion, 86.8% did enjoyed high salt
intake, 77.4% were drinking alcohol, 73.8% engaged in premarital sex, 68.0% were drinking coffee,
9.8% did not deliberately engage in exercise/physical activity while 7.4% did not take time to relax.