Risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea in Arab women: A focus on war displacement and mental health outcomes

Omar Gammoh; Osama Abo Al Rob; Abdelrahim Alqudah; Ahmed Al-Smadi; Mohamad Obada Dobain; Reham Zeghoul; Alaa A. A. Aljabali; Mervat Alsous; Omar Gammoh; Osama Abo Al Rob; Abdelrahim Alqudah; Ahmed Al-Smadi; Mohamad Obada Dobain; Reham Zeghoul; Alaa A. A. Aljabali; Mervat Alsous

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2024010

AIMS Public Health

2024, Volume 11, Issue 1: 209-222. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024010

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Research article

Risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea in Arab women: A focus on war displacement and mental health outcomes

1.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
2.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
3.
Adult Health Nursing, Prince Salma College, Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
4.
Souriyat Across Borders, Amman, Jordan
5.
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan

Received: 26 October 2023 Revised: 26 January 2024 Accepted: 19 February 2024 Published: 26 February 2024

Background
Dysmenorrhea is wide spread gynecological disorder among that affect the quality of life of women world wide. The current study aims to examine whether war displacement, mental health symptoms, and other clinical factors are associated with dysmenorrhea severity.

Methods
This is a cross-sectional case-control study recruiting two groups: displaced Syrian women and un-displaced local Jordanian women. Demographics and clinical details were recorded. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed using WaLIDD scale, the PHQ-9 scale was emplyed to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety was assessed using the GAD-7 scale, and insomnia was assessed using the ISI-A scale. Predictors of severe dysmenorrhea in females using multivariate binary logistic regression.

Results
Out of 808 of the total participants, 396 (49%) were Syrian displaced war refugees, 424 (42.5%) reported using paracetamol, 232 (23.2%) were using NSAIDs, and 257 (25.9%) using herbal remedies. Severe dysmenorrhea was associated with war displacement (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.49–3.08, p < 0.001), not using NSAIDs (OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.91–3.95, p < 0.001), not using herbal remedies (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.13–3.60, p = 0.01), depression (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.40–3.29, p < 0.001), and insomnia (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.14–2.42, p = 0.009).

Conclusions
War displacement, type of analgesic, depression, and insomnia are risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea.
- women,
- dysmenorrhea,
- war displacement,
- depression,
- anxiety,
- and insomnia
Citation: Omar Gammoh, Osama Abo Al Rob, Abdelrahim Alqudah, Ahmed Al-Smadi, Mohamad Obada Dobain, Reham Zeghoul, Alaa A. A. Aljabali, Mervat Alsous. Risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea in Arab women: A focus on war displacement and mental health outcomes[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(1): 209-222. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024010

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Abstract

Background

Dysmenorrhea is wide spread gynecological disorder among that affect the quality of life of women world wide. The current study aims to examine whether war displacement, mental health symptoms, and other clinical factors are associated with dysmenorrhea severity.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional case-control study recruiting two groups: displaced Syrian women and un-displaced local Jordanian women. Demographics and clinical details were recorded. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed using WaLIDD scale, the PHQ-9 scale was emplyed to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety was assessed using the GAD-7 scale, and insomnia was assessed using the ISI-A scale. Predictors of severe dysmenorrhea in females using multivariate binary logistic regression.

Results

Out of 808 of the total participants, 396 (49%) were Syrian displaced war refugees, 424 (42.5%) reported using paracetamol, 232 (23.2%) were using NSAIDs, and 257 (25.9%) using herbal remedies. Severe dysmenorrhea was associated with war displacement (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.49–3.08, p < 0.001), not using NSAIDs (OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.91–3.95, p < 0.001), not using herbal remedies (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.13–3.60, p = 0.01), depression (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.40–3.29, p < 0.001), and insomnia (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.14–2.42, p = 0.009).

Conclusions

War displacement, type of analgesic, depression, and insomnia are risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Caritas team in Jordan for facilitating this work. Also, special thanks to Prof. Giuseppe Moscati, Nour, Suzi, Sama and Yasmina.
This study was funded by Yarmouk University.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
“The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of Yarmouk University (39/2022).
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Written informed consent has been obtained from the patient(s) to publish this paper.
Data is available from the corresponding author and can be provided upon request.

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