RESUMEN
Background: Menstruation is a taboo subject among adolescents girl; lack of knowledge regarding the menstruation, menstrual hygiene, and menstrual abnormalities has significant negative influence on young women. Most of the time menstrual abnormalities were not reported timely resulting in their late diagnosis as well as intervention, burdening adolescents and young adult women physically and mentally. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to identify the menstrual patterns, abnormalities, effects of these abnormalities on the student population in form of social withdrawal, sickness absenteeism, and degrading academic performances. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on menstrual abnormalities among 187 undergraduate students of Medical College Kolkata was conducted to illuminate menstrual problems and its effects on their regular activities. By systematic random sampling technique participants were selected. Questions were related to menstruation, variations in menstrual patterns, dysmenorrhea and its severity, premenstrual symptom, family and medical history in relation to menstrual abnormalities, social withdrawal, monthly sickness absenteeism and degrading of academic performances. Results: The mean age of subjects at menarche was 13.19 ± 0.931 years. Of all the abnormalities, dysmenorrhea was the highest with 84% of prevalence, followed by pre-menstrual symptom with prevalence of 68.4%. Social withdrawal (17.8%), college absenteeism (5.7%), and degrading of academic performance (8.2%) were reported among the students. Conclusion: Menstrual abnormalities must be promptly diagnosed and treated, and students must get counseling addressing these issues if they are to improve their health and quality of life and reduce their chances of developing further illnesses.
RESUMEN
Background: Medical students are reported to have high levels of mental distress that includes problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress due to the highly competitive curriculum. In the post-pandemic era with a renewed perspective toward health system and popularization of online classes, current batch of students are exposed to diverse sources of mental distress. Aims and Objectives: Objectives of this study were to find out the socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, family background and academic profile of the study participants, and to estimate the proportion of different varieties of mental distress among them, and to examine relationship of mental distress with sociodemographic, behavioral and academic profile. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed on 649 undergraduate students by census method using depression anxiety stress scale-21 items. Results: The study participants are predominantly Hindu, urban, unmarried, hostelites, males from nuclear families and belonging to upper socioeconomic class according to Modified B.G Prasad Socioeconomic Status Scale (January 2022). The proportion of depression, anxiety, and stress among study participants was found to be 49.61%, 58.86%, and 33.13%, respectively. Proportion of mental distress was significantly higher in the age group of 21–24 years. Those who preferred to study more at night were more anxious and stressed. Stress was higher in students with addiction to gadgets too. Participants hailing from rural areas, hostelites, and paying guests were relatively more depressed. Conclusion: There is urgent need for emotional support and provision of personalized counseling for the MBBS students as unchecked mental distress can turn into severe psychological morbidity.