Use of Contraceptives, Menstrual History and Weight Gain among University and Secondary School Adolescents in Abia State, Nigeria
Abstract:
This cross-sectional survey evaluated the effect of contraceptives
on menstrual cycle, menstrual flow and weight gain of adolescent female secondary
and university students in Abia State, Nigeria. One thousand, six hundred (1600)
adolescents aged 10 to 19 years were used for the study. Two secondary schools
and two universities [(one secondary school/university from each Local Government
Area (LGA)] were randomly selected. A structured self-administered questionnaire
designed to collect information on health habits of adolescent girls was given
to respondents in their schools. Information gathered from the questionnaires
was coded and analyzed using the computer program Statistical Software package
(SAS). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used.
Results showed that majority (70.5% vs 58.75%) of adolescent university and
secondary school girls, respectively described their menstrual cycle as regular
(every month). A wide variety of contraceptives namely abstinence, safe period,
intrauterine devices, vaginal jellies and creams and oral contraceptives were
used by the students. Majority (60.97% vs 48.74%) of the subjects in the university
and secondary school respectively reported that the contraceptives they used
had no effect on their menstrual flow. Almost equal percentage of respondents
(33.92% vs 33.49%) of the secondary school and university adolescents respectively
reported that their menstrual cycle was regular every time. The study showed
that abstinence and safe period were the most commonly used birth control methods
by both secondary and university adolescent girls in Abia State, Nigeria.
How to cite this article
J.U. Anyika, A.C. Uwaegbute, I.A. Onimawo and C.A. Echendu, 2012. Use of Contraceptives, Menstrual History and Weight Gain among University and Secondary School Adolescents in Abia State, Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 11: 863-867.
REFERENCES
Anyika, J.U., 2006. Dietary habits, iron and vitamin a status of adolescent female secondary and university students in Abia State. Ph.D. Thesis, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
McLean Baird, I., R.L. Walters and D.R. Sutton, 1974. Absorption of Slow-release Iron and effects of ascorbic acid in normal subjects and after partial gastrectomy. Br. Med. J., 4: 505-508.
Direct Link
Cole, S.K., W.Z. Billewicz and A.M. Thomson, 1971. Sources of variation in menstrual blood loss. BJOG: Int. J. Obstetrics Gynaecol., 78: 933-939.
CrossRef
Garrow, J.S., W.P.T. James and A. Ralph, 2000. Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 10th Edn., Harcourt Publishers Ltd., UK., pp: 177-207
Guillebaud, J., J. Bonnar, J. Morehead and A. Matthews, 1976. Menstrual blood-loss with intrauterine devices. Lancet, 1: 387-390.
PubMed Direct Link
Kurz, K.M. and C. Johnson-Welch, 1994. The Nutrition and Lives of Adolescents in Developing Countries: Findings from the Nutrition of Adolescent Girls Research Program. International Centre for Research on Women, Washington, DC
Llewellyn-Jones, D., 1999. Everywoman: A Gynaecological Guide for Life. Faber and Faber, London
Lufshitz, D.A., R. Tarim and Y. Smith, 1993. How does nutrition affect the development of adolescents? JPEN., 9: 343-345.
Masse, P.G., 1991. Nutrient intakes of women who use oral contraceptives. J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 91: 1118-1120.
PubMed
National Micronutrient Survey Nigeria, 1993. OMNI Opportunities for micronutrient interventions. University of Ibadan and USAID.
Omotola, B.D., A.O. Grange, J.A. Adedoyin, B.I.C. Brai, E.B. Omotola and N. Njepuome, 2005. Breastfeeding practice in the first six months of life in EPE local government area of lagos state. Nig. J. Nutr. Sci., 26: 16-22.
SAS, 2003. SAS System for Windows. Version 8, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Caroline, USA
Cataldo, C.B. and E.N. Whitney, 1986. Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Principles and Practice. West Pub. Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota, ISBN-13: 9780314931603, Pages: 586
Van der Vange, N., H. van den Berg, H.J. Kloosterboer and A.A. Haspels, 1989. Effects of seven low-dose combined contraceptives on vitamin B6 status. Contraception, 40: 377-384.
CrossRef
WHO, 1999. Diet, nutrition and prevention of chronic diseases. Technical Report Series No. 797. World Health Organization, Geneva.
WHO, 2000. The Management of Nutrition in Major Emergencies. World Health Organization, Geneva
Osmani, S.R., 1997. Poverty and nutrition in South Asia. Proceedings of the ACC/SCN 24th Session Symposium on Nutrition and Poverty, March 17-21, 1997, Kathmandu, Nepal, pp: 23-51.
© Science Alert. All Rights Reserved