Effect of premenstrual syndrome on school absenteeism and academic performance amongst female secondary school students in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The commencement of menstruation is the hallmark of female pubertal development and active reproductive life. It may be associated with somatic and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome which may affect school attendance and performance. This study was conducted to determine the effect of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on school absenteeism and academic performance among female secondary school students in Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was a nested case-controlled study conducted on 300 female students enrolled in secondary schools in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria in March 2021. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 with p < 0.05 considered as significant. Results generated indicate that the mean age of participants was 16.2 ± 1.6 years. The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was 226 (75.3%). One hundred respondents (44.2%) were absent from school at any point of time as a result of the PMS. Generally, there was a significant association between the presence of PMS and school absenteeism (p = 0.001, OR = 3.346). Among the symptoms of PMS, there was a significant relationship between the presence of tension (p = 0.043) and mood swings (p = 0.048) and the occurrence of school absenteeism. Furthermore, PMS was perceived to affect reading, homework and test grades of respondents. The self-reported prevalence rate of PMS among respondents was 76.1%. This disorder was significantly associated with school absenteeism and low performance grades among affected respondents. There is need to make policies that will encourage school girls to attend schools during their menses.