Prevalence and factors associated with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder among female students attending Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe mood disorder impacting a substantial number of women in their reproductive age. Despite a global prevalence of 3-8%, PMDD remains poorly understood, particularly in African regions. Methods: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and associated factors of PMDD among female students attending Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery in Uganda. We employed a cross-sectional quantitative design to investigate PMDD's prevalence and associated factors among females aged 18 to 49 at Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery. The research utilized a sample size of 301 participants, determined by a 95% confidence interval. Data collection involved socio-demographic questionnaires and the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool (PSTT), adhering to DSM-IV criteria for PMDD diagnosis. Collected data was statistically analyzed using STATA 14 software. Results: PMDD was found to be 20% among the participants. The most common premenstrual symptoms reported to be severe were physical symptoms and fatigue/lack of energy. Drinking more than one cup of coffee daily (AOR = 4.399; 95% CI: 1.1-17.8, P=0.037), and use of oral contraceptives (AOR =4.893, 95% CI: 1.2-19.9, P=0.026) were found to be significantly associated with PMDD in this study. Conclusions and recommendations: The prevalence of PMDD among female students attending Mulago school of nursing and midwifery was high, at 20%. Significant associations were found between PMDD and both the consumption of more than one cup of coffee and the use of oral contraceptives. It is recommended that screening for PMDD be implemented in educational institutions to facilitate timely care and support for affected individuals.