Evaluation of the Lifestyle Choices, Prevalence, and Awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Among the Female Students Studying Health Related Courses in a Nigerian University

OBJECTIVES: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a global public health issue with rising prevalence. It is crucial to ascertain the awareness of young women about PCOS. The aim of the research was to evaluate PCOS: awareness; prevalence of; reproductive health knowledge and; lifestyle choices of female students studying heath related courses.

METHODS: Using a pretested, questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 800 female students studying health related courses in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria from December to March 2023. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (Version 26) and P-value was set at less than 0.05.

RESULTS: Response rate was 68.4%. Majority (96.4%) were single; 50.6% weighed between 50-60kgs; 8.8% were smokers; 18% spent more than 10 hours per week on physical activities; 54.9% ate fast food less than five times a week which indicated low levels of physical activity and a low consumption of fast food; 43.1% had heard of PCOS. Their knowledge level of Infertility was 53.9% with mean+SD of 3.43+1.225; 28.2% experienced polymenorrhea, and 13.5% reported having oligomenorrhea; 5.1% were using medications among the 4.9% diagnosed with PCOS; 10% experienced abnormal bleeding during menstruation, while 6.6% had excessive body hair. There was a significant positive correlation between the course of Study and their awareness of PCOS (P-value is <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of the respondents had heard of the condition PCOS. The respondents had good reproductive health knowledge and a fair knowledge of Infertility. Few engaged in enough physical activity. The lifestyle choices of the respondents may expose them to PCOS.