Premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: urban-rural and multiethnic differences in perception, impacts, and treatment seeking
Abstract
Background Attitudes toward menarche and menstruation are largely influenced by sociological, cultural, and family environmental factors. Recognizing the influential effects that these factors might have on shaping adolescents' attitudes is crucial in designing a more effective means of transmitting health information.Aims This study aimed to gather an in-depth understanding of perceptions, impacts, and treatment seeking on menstruation-related issues from an ethnically mixed group of rural and urban girls.Methodology In total, 27 focus group discussions (172 participants) were conducted between November 2008 and April 2009. Participants were adolescent girls aged 13-19 years, recruited from 7 public secondary schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and 4 public secondary schools from the rural districts of Kelantan, in Malaysia.Results Many participants revealed that they were not given or had not received detailed information about the mechanism or physiology of menstruation prior to its onset. Thus, many described the onset of menarche as shocking, an event for which they were unprepared, and which has had a tremendous impact on their emotions. More positive acceptance of menarche was reported in the urban than with the rural groups. Despite the high prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea, participants across urban-rural and ethnic groups perceived the problems as completely normal, hence they relied on self-care methods and did not want to seek professional treatment. More rural girls compared to urban girls were embarrassed to talk to their mothers or consult their physicians regarding menstruation-related problems.Conclusion Menstruation-related education would have a positive impact in improving adolescent girls' knowledge and in nurturing a positive attitude toward menstruation-related matters at home, at school, and in the community.
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Where investigated, women and girls lacked clarity on what constituted normal and abnormal (i.e., disordered) menstruation.
“Where investigated, women and girls also lacked clarity on what constituted normal and abnormal (i.e., disordered) menstruation”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [109]
Healthcare providers such as nurses or community health workers were mentioned in only a few studies, and always as unsupportive.
“Healthcare providers such as nurses or community health workers were mentioned in only a few studies, and always as unsupportive”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [109]
Others reported pursuing multiple avenues such as doctors and herbalists or community healers in attempts to receive effective treatment for their pain.
“Others reported pursuing multiple avenues such as doctors and herbalists or community healers in attempts to receive effective treatment for their pain”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [109]
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- Authors
- Wong, L. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Malaya (MY)
- Corresponding author
- Wong, Li Ping
- ORCID
- Wong, Li Ping
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 272-277
- ISSN
- 0932-8610 (ISSN-L)
- 1083-3188
- OpenAlex
- W2055670788
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Keywords
- premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, adolescent girls, menarche, attitudes toward menstruation, urban-rural differences, ethnic differences, treatment seeking, menstrual health education, self-care, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Dysmenorrhea, Female, Health Education, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Malaysia, Menarche, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Premenstrual Syndrome, Rural Population, Urban Population, Focus Groups, Young Adult
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