Prevalence of Migraine Among Female Students at Taibah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background:-University studentsare routinelycomplaining of triggers, especiallyirregular sleepand stress, which are commonly associated with migraineattacks. Objectives:-To assess the prevalenceof migraine headache among female students at Taibah University (Saudi Arabia) and to determine the common triggering and palliative factors of migraine headache among female University students. Methods:-A cross-sectional study was carried out among female university students.Participants who had suffered from two or more headaches in the previous 3 months were subjected to the IDMigraine screening test, then who had at least two positive answers of the screening test were confirmed as a migraineursbased on the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society for migraine. Results:-Migraine was detected among 244 out of 395 students (61.8%).Physical stimulation as (light, loudness, change in weather, certain smells) were the most triggering factors of migraine in 170/244 (69.7%) of migraine students. The most important relieving factors were rest and sleep in 155/244 (63.5%), medication in (33.2%), followed by darkening room in (30.3%), message in (20.1%), and coffee drink in (18%) of migraine students. This study showed significant association between migraine headache and family history of migraine and studying in theoretical colleges. Conclusions:-The prevalenceof migraine among female students in Taibah University was high in comparison to other studies. The study recommend raising awareness towards migraine among students and teaching them how to deal with such a disabling condition to achieve optimum coping techniques aiming to a better quality of life.Copy Right, IJAR, 2013,. All rights reserved.

Migraine among Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Unexpectedly, there was significant association between migraine headache and studying in non-health colleges (P =0.001) [1,2]. This agreed with previous, where migraine prevalence was higher among theoretical collage in comparison to practical collage (26%) and (56%) respectively.…”

“…In this study, lack of sleep (89.3%) is the most common trigger factor for migraine, followed by stress 74.8%, and menstruation 46.6%; Neyaz etal who showed that life style changes as (change in sleep pattern) in (66.0%) and stress in (56.1%). Whereas in other studies (1,2,18) irregular sleep was reported in 80.6%, stress in 83.5% of migraineurs participants.…”

“…Reported migraine prevalence in a study done at king Saud University in Riyadh was 25.7% among 400 female students [1]. Another study also done in Saudi Arabia showed that the prevalence of migraine among female students in Taibah University in was 61.8% [2]. While in other gulf countries it was 12.2% in Oman, and 7.9% in Qatar [7,8].…”

“…The public health burden of migraine is substantial due to its high prevalence and prominent temporary disability [1]. It is a disabling painful condition that is more prevalent three times amongst women, especially young and middle aged women [2]. Migraine is highly prevalent among university students and it is associated with impaired academic performance and limited daily activities.…”

“…It has negative effects among university students, who indeed require constant concentration and high level of performance [3]. Today, migraine becomes of considerable interest among university students due to its negative effects on their concentration, performance and quality of life [2].The prevalence of migraine among medical students ranges from 11 to 40% worldwide [4].…”