PREVALENCE OF MIGRAINE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN SOKOTO, NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Balarabe S. A.* and Mufutau A. Yunusa

ABSTRACT

Background: Migraine is a common neurological disorder that is characterized by debilitating head pain and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia and occasionally, sensory or motor disturbances. Due to its negative effects on quality of life, it becomes especially considerable among university students, who by virtue of their curriculum require optimal concentration and performance. Moderate to severe headache attacks in migraine have a profound impact on school performance among university students. Previous studies have suggested that migraine is present among medical students. However, there is paucity of study in Nigeria on this subject. This study tends to shed more light on the prevalence of migraine among medical students in sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study among medical students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. Two hundred students were recruited for this study comprising of both male and female students. Self administered structured questionnaire which was designed and pre tested was used to assess for sociodemographic variables and the presence of migraine. All collected data were cross-checked for consistency and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 (Chicago IL USA)statistical software package. Means of two groups were compared using student's t-test while proportions were compared using chi-squire with Yates correction where appropriate. Any p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred and twenty two of the subjects responded to the questionnaire corresponding to 61.5%. The Female students were 73 (59.8%) while the male students were 49 (40.2%) with female to male ratio of 1.5:1. The mean age of the subjects was 23.03 (±2.99); minimum age was 18 years while maximum age was 40years. All the level of medical students were represented (except for UG 3 who were on semester break during the study) with more representation from 400 level, 57 (46.7%) and 500 level 29 (23.8%).The prevalence of migraine among the subjects was 31 (28.7%)(fig.3). Of those who reported positive for migraine, 10 (29.4%) was left sided, 6 (17.6%) right sided, 10 (29.4%) both side of the head, while 7 (20.6%) reported generalized headache. The frequency of the migraine varied with some as frequent as 25 times a month. Fourteen (45.2%) reported the presence of sensory aura including visual and olfactory hallucination, while others complained of motor aura. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that migraine is not uncommon among the medical students in Sokoto and impacts on students ability to attend and optimally perform in educational activities. Therefore, migraine should be given a public health priority in this community in that headaches in migraine, are usually lifelong conditions and cause disability both in terms of the disease and lifestyle restrictions they impose on the individual, associated with profound negative impact on school performance among university students.

Keywords: Migraine, Medical students, Prevalence.