Traditional practices and coping methods used by women experiencing premenstrual syndrome

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to examine the symptom severity, coping methods, and use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) among women living in rural areas and experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among women aged 18–49 years registered at a primary health care centre. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, specifically criterion sampling; 327 women who reported experiencing (according to the PMS Scale) PMS were included in the study. Data were collected using a Identification Information Form, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and the Premenstrual Coping Measure (PCM). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Among women screened at the health center, 48.23% met the PMS screening criteria and were included in the study. The average age of the women was 33.92±9.30. The mean total PMSS score was 142.50±12.28, with the highest subscale scores found in depressive mood, anxiety, and fatigue. Among the PCM subscales, the highest mean scores were found in awareness and acceptance of premenstrual changes. A weak but significant positive correlation was found between the total PMSS score and the PCM awareness-acceptance, self-care, and communication subscales (r≈0.15–0.25; p<0.05). 74.9% of women used at least one TCM method, and TCM use was significantly higher in the 42–49 age group, among women with primary school education, and among working women (p<0.05). Conclusion: Women living in rural areas largely rely on traditional and complementary methods to cope with PMS, but their coping levels remain limited. These findings may guide the development of culturally sensitive counseling approaches for PMS in primary healthcare settings.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• complementary therapies
• premenstrual syndrome
• traditional medicine
• women's health

Premenstrual sendrom yaşayan kadınların kullandığı geleneksel uygulamalar ve başa çıkma yöntemleri

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, kırsal bölgelerde yaşayan ve premenstrual sendrom (PMS) yaşayan kadınlarda semptom şiddetini, başa çıkma davranışlarını ve geleneksel ve tamamlayıcı tıp (GTT) kullanımını incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı çalışma, bir birinci basamak sağlık merkezine kayıtlı 18-49 yaş arası kadınlarla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Katılımcılar, amaçlı örnekleme, özellikle de kriter örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak seçilmiştir; PMS yaşadığını bildiren (PMS Ölçeğine göre) 327 kadın çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Veriler, Kimlik Bilgileri Formu, Premenstrüel Sendrom Ölçeği (PMSÖ) ve Premenstrual Semptomlarla Baş Etme Ölçeği (PSBÖ) kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, ki-kare testi ve Spearman korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Sağlık merkezinde taranan kadınlar arasında %48,23’ü PMS tarama kriterlerini karşılamış ve çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Kadınların yaş ortalaması 33,92±9,30’dur. Toplam PMSÖ puan ortalaması 142,50±12,28 olarak saptanmış ve en yüksek alt ölçek puanlarının depresif duygu durum, anksiyete ve yorgunluk alt boyutlarında olduğu belirlenmiştir. PSBÖ alt ölçekleri arasında ise en yüksek ortalama puanlar premenstrual değişimlere ilişkin farkındalık ve kabul alt boyutunda görülmüştür. Toplam PMSÖ puanı ile PSBÖ’nün farkındalık-kabul, öz bakım ve iletişim alt boyutları arasında zayıf ancak istatistiksel olarak anlamlı pozitif bir korelasyon saptanmıştır (r≈0,15-0,25; p<0,05). Kadınların %74,9’u en az bir GTT yöntemi kullanmakta ve GTT kullanımı 42–49 yaş grubunda, ilkokul mezunu olanlarda ve çalışan kadınlarda anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksektir (p<0,05). Sonuç: Kırsal bölgelerde yaşayan kadınlar, premenstrual sendromla başa çıkmak için büyük ölçüde geleneksel ve tamamlayıcı yöntemlere başvurmaktadır, ancak başa çıkma düzeyleri sınırlı kalmaktadır. Bu bulgular, birinci basamak sağlık hizmetlerinde PMS’ye yönelik kültürel olarak duyarlı danışmanlık yaklaşımlarının geliştirilmesine rehberlik edebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• tamamlayıcı terapiler
• premenstrual sendrom
• geleneksel tıp
• kadın sağlığı

Kaynakça

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