How Does Primary Dysmenorrhea Impact the Quality of Life of Young Women Ages (18-35) in a Selected Community in St. James, Jamaica?

Problem Statement: Primary Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological conditions that affects woman of reproductive age (Iacovides, Avidon, Bentley & Baker, 2013). Globally, Primary Dysmenorrhea affects 15% to 94% of adolescent girls (Perrin, 2016). The prevalence of the condition is not known in Jamaica. Significance of the study: The study contributes to the body of knowledge for midwives, nurses and members of the obstetrical team. Women who are affected by the condition can benefit from the different types of management used to alleviate pain and discomfort. Findings can be used to reduce lost hours due to absences from work and school. Methodology: A quantitative approach utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The Population consists of women age 18-35 years. The sample size using the Raosoft sample size calculator with a confidence level of 95% and 5% margin of error, was 132 from 200 women. Key Findings: The prevalence of Primary Dysmenorrhea is (77%). Majority (65%) reported that they self-medicated to relieve menstrual pain. Activities mostly affected are performance of chores (56%), and absence from work and school (30%). The most significant effect Primary Dysmenorrhea has on mood was irritability (74%). Conclusion: Females affected by Primary Dysmenorrhea experienced significant changes in daily activities. Further research is necessary in order to seek new ways to help young women to become knowledgeable about primary dysmenorrhea so that they can be much better prepared to deal with the symptoms and to have much better self-management strategies in place.