Relation between dysmenorrhea and body mass index in adolescents with rural versus urban variation

To find out the relation between the frequency of dysmenorrhea and body mass index in adolescents and to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, especially rural/urban variation in the frequency of dysmenorrhea.

Cross-sectional study of 200 urban and 200 rural school going adolescent girls at Udaipur and Bedla Districts, Rajasthan.

Of the 400 girls, the prevalence of dysmenorrhea was found to be very high (81.5 % rural and 76 % urban). In the rural setup, of the total girls with mild dysmenorrhea, 71.84 % had BMI < 16.5, with 27.18 % underweight. All girls with moderate and severe dysmenorrhea had BMI < 16.5. In the urban setup, of all girls with mild dysmenorrhea, 38.05 % had BMI < 16.5 and 54.86 % were underweight. All girls with severe and 80 % with moderate dysmenorrhea had BMI < 16.5. All girls with no dysmenorrhea had normal BMI. There was significant rural versus urban variation.

Relation between dysmenorrhea and BMI was found to be significant (p < 0.01) with increased prevalence in the low BMI group. Hence, improving the nutritional status of adolescent girls may reduce dysmenorrhea.