Knowledge and practice of adolescent student girls regarding premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome [PMS] refers to a cluster of physical, psychological and behavioral symptoms that occur during the Luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and end with the onset of menstruation. The very high prevalence of PMS might be related to lack of proper knowledge about menstruation and associated changes among girls. This study aims at evaluating the knowledge and practice of female students regarding premenstrual syndrome. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in carrying out the study in four different general and technical governmental secondary schools for girls in Mansoura city. 600 student girls were selected through stratified random sampling, selecting, one general and one technical school from each zone. A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet, and modified version of menstrual distress questionnaire [MDQ] were used for data collection during period from 9/2005 to 3/ 2006, three days per week. Results: The results have shown that the mean age at menarche was 12.8 +/- 1.2 years, menstrual flow mean was 5.3j1.1 days, and 66.2% had regular cycles. The most prevalent premenstrual physical symptoms were backache [85.2%], and vaginal discharge [72.5%], while anxiety was the most common psychological symptom [72.2%]. Only 13% had severe PMS symptoms, and 14.8% had total satisfactory knowledge. Mothers were the main sources of information [73.8%]. The most common self- care practices to relieve PMS were bathing [75.5%], avoiding non- prescribed medications [64.5%], and taking hot drinks [535%]. The practice of physical exercise was only 16.2%. A higher percentage of students in general schools had satisfactory knowledge, compared to technical schools, 21.1% and 8.6%, respectively [p<0.001], and students with illiterate mothers had the lowest percentage of satisfactory knowledge [7.6%], compared to secondary and university education [18.9% and 18.0%, respectively], p=0.020. The highest level of satisfactory knowledge was associated with the mother as a Source of information [7.9%], p=0.015. It is concluded that female secondary school students in Mansoura suffer from mild PMS symptoms. They have a lack of knowledge about PMS, and their mothers were the main source of information. Knowledge was better in general schools girls, with educated and working mothers. It is recommended to conduct educational sessions discussing menstruation and related issues for mothers in outpatient clinics or schools. The school nurse role should be fostered

Factors affecting mothers' utilization of antenatal care

To assess mothers! knowledge and attitude toward antenatal care, and identify barriers that hinder their utilization of antenatal care. Design: a cross-sectional analytic study. Setting: antenatal care clinics, Ain Shams University, Maternity Hospital. 500 pregnant women were selected through systematic random sampling from pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics for 6 months. The criteria of the sample include pregnant women in the 1st and 2nd trimester, aged from 20-35 years. Data were collected through personal interviewing using a structured interview sheet and a rating scale. the majority [92.2%] of women had positive attitude toward antenatal care, and most of them [72.2%] had satisfactory knowledge. Barriers affecting mothers! utilization of antenatal care included social barriers [32.6%], economic barriers [43%], psychological barriers [20.4%], and setting-related barriers [31.4%]. Women's knowledge and attitude turned to have a statistically significant association [p=0.02]. Perception of barriers was statistically significantly related to women's knowledge and attitude. psychosocial and economic conditions of the women and health services are important determinants of utilization of antenatal care. Nurses should have a more positive role in raising the awareness of women about the importance of antenatal care. They need in-service training programs with updated essential knowledge and practice about ANC services

Synthesis of new benzenesulfonamide and benzisothiazolone derivatives as proteolytic enzyme inhibitors

Starting from saccharin sodium, two types of the hydrazide derivatives, 3 and 11 were prepared which underwent condensation with different aromatic aldehydes to give the hydrazone derivatives 4 and 12, respectively. Moreover, the hydrazide 3 was cyclized using CS[2] in ethanolic KOH solution to afford the oxadiazole derivative 5. Reaction of the oxadiazole 5 with methyl iodide in ethanolic KOH at room temperature gave the corresponding thioether derivative 6. The thiosemicarbazide 7 was obtained in high yield by the reaction of the hydrazide 3 and phenyl isothiocyanate at room temperature which was cyclized either in basic media to afford the triazole derivative 8 or under acidic condition to give the thiadiazole 9. Most novel compounds have been examined for their proteolytic enzyme inhibitory activity whereas compounds 6, 9 and 12h showed the highest inhibitory activity

Use of alternative therapies for relief of dysmenorrheal pain: a clinical trial

Dysmenorrheal pain is the most common gynecological problem for menstruating women. Fifty percent of menstruating women are affected by dysmenorrheal pain and 10% have severe dysmenorrheal cycles, which greatly limit their activities for one to three days each month. Many consumers are currently seeking alternative therapies, which play an important role in treatment of menstrual disorders. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of alternative therapies for relieving pain with primary dysmenorrhea among students in the Faculty of Nursing, El Menia. The research hypothesis was that students who will follow the practice of alternative therapies, which include exercise, herbal therapy [peppermint and chamomile], and Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS] will experience an alleviation of dysmenorrheal pain. This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Faculty of Nursing at El-Menia University at beginning of October 2003. A stratified random sample technique was used on 300 student nurses from grades II, III, and IV. Their age ranged from 17 to 21 years. They were equally divided into three groups for each type of alternative therapies for relief of primary dysmenorrheal pain, namely, Trans-Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS], herbal, and exercise. The following tools were used for data collection self-administered questionnaire, and a modified pain intensity scale. A self-learning booklet was designed by the researchers and distributed as a guide to students for alternative therapies. The effect of alternative therapies on the characteristics of menstruation was assessed by comparing pre-trial and three-month follow-up data. A pilot study was done on 10% of the pre stated sample and according to its results tools were modified those students were excluded from the sample

Results: showed lower back and lower abdominal pain were the most common sites of pain. The compliance of students in the three groups was mostly satisfactory throughout the follow-up period of three months. There were statistically significant improvements in most characteristics of menstruation as well as pain and daily activities in all three groups

Conclusion: using alternative therapies has led to minimization of dysmenorrheal pain intensity, with improvement of its effect on daily activities and absenteeism. It is recommended that alternative therapies be more widely used and recommended by health care providers