Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are premenstrual disorders characterized by a cyclical pattern of severe premenstrual symptoms experienced by women, which typically occurs during the days prior to menstruation and ends at the onset of menses. These symptoms may be unbearable in some women and hinder normal daily life including personal relationships, social activities, work and academic activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and severity of PMS among female students. Material and methods: PMS and PMDD were diagnosed using the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences (COPE) form. Participants were requested to complete the form for two consecutive menstrual cycles. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 480 female students (aged 15 to 45 years) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Results: Of the 480 participants, 206 (42.9%) women met the criteria for diagnosis of PMS, and 274 (57.1%) did not meet the criteria for PMS. Among participants with PMS, 98 (47.6%) women met the criteria for severe PMS or PMDD. In women with PMS, the most prevalent symptoms were trouble concentrating (85.0%), irritability (79.2%), abdominal bloating (75.3%), aches and pains (70.0%), mood swings (69.2%), breast tenderness (69.2%), and food craving (68.0%). Conclusions: The prevalence of PMS, as well as PMDD, was high among female students in Nigeria.

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Background Tobacco use is projected to increase in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the next century, and delineating the patterns of inequality in tobacco use will facilitate its control within this region. Methods Using nationally representative data from Global Adult Tobacco Surveys (GATS) conducted in seven SSA countries (2012–2018), this study explores the association between the social determinants of health and tobacco use among SSA adults. The surveys provided information on 47,246 adults aged 15 years or older in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Current tobacco use prevalence was estimated in each country overall and across socioeconomic and demographic factors (sex, age, residence, education, wealth, religion, marital status, and tobacco health knowledge). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of these determinants with current tobacco use in each country and for the combined dataset. The pooled data analysis was further stratified by tobacco product category and sex. Results We found significant homogenous associations between the social determinants and tobacco use across all countries. For the pooled data, smoking was independently associated with male sex, rural residence, greater age, lower education and health knowledge, and irreligiousness. For smokeless tobacco (SLT) use, the trends were similar and stronger for all determinants except sex. Among women only, the odds of smoking and SLT use respectively increased and decreased with greater wealth. Conclusions Tobacco use is significantly associated with socioeconomic deprivation in SSA (stronger for SLT use than for smoking). These findings highlight opportunities for targeted interventions within SSA.

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