Prevalence and determinants of primary dysmenorrhea among rural adolescent girls: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common cause of morbidity among adolescent girls, impacting school attendance and quality of life. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 rural adolescent girls (13-18 years) in Dadra and Nagar Haveli using a structured interview schedule and Numerical Pain Rating Scale to assess prevalence and determinants of dysmenorrhea. Data showed that 61.3% experienced moderate pain and 27% severe pain, with significant associations between severity and BMI (p = 0.031), family history (p = 0.015) and family type (p = 0.029). No significant associations were observed with age, menarcheal age, cycle frequency, flow duration, religion, or income.