DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROJECT

7 Users found this project useful

Impact of Endometriosis Education on Endometriosis Symptom Recognition among Female University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity and may cause pain, menstrual disturbances, and other reproductive and general health problems. It is an important women's health concern that may affect physical wellbeing, academic participation, emotional health, relationships, and quality of life. Female university students may experience symptoms such as severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse, painful bowel movements or urination during menstruation, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, fatigue, and difficulties associated with fertility. However, endometriosis may remain unrecognized for prolonged periods because some symptoms are perceived as normal aspects of menstruation, while limited awareness, misconceptions, stigma, fear of diagnosis, and inadequate access to reliable reproductive health information may contribute to delayed recognition and healthcare-seeking. Endometriosis education provides an opportunity to improve students' understanding of the condition, its potential symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of appropriate professional assessment. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of endometriosis education on endometriosis symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model. The Health Belief Model explains how students' perceptions of their susceptibility to endometriosis, perceived severity of its consequences, perceived benefits of recognizing symptoms, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence symptom recognition and healthcare-seeking. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy, observational learning, social interaction, and environmental influences in the development and application of health knowledge. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model provides a framework for explaining how improved health information may influence students' understanding and interpretation of endometriosis symptoms and subsequent health-related decisions. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how endometriosis education may influence symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative analytical cross-sectional or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise female undergraduate students enrolled in selected universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, universities, faculties, departments, and eligible female students. Endometriosis education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to structured endometriosis education, frequency and duration of educational sessions, information on endometriosis causes and mechanisms, potential risk factors, common symptoms, possible complications, available diagnostic pathways, treatment options, and appropriate healthcare-seeking. Endometriosis symptom recognition will be assessed using indicators such as the ability to recognize severe or persistent menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse, pain associated with bowel movements or urination during menstruation, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, persistent fatigue, and reproductive or fertility-related concerns that may warrant professional assessment. The study will emphasize that these symptoms are not specific to endometriosis and that appropriate clinical evaluation is required for diagnosis. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and appropriate endometriosis knowledge or symptom-recognition assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, exposure to endometriosis education, and levels of symptom recognition. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the impact of endometriosis education on symptom recognition. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, symptom-recognition scores before and after structured education may be compared, while relevant demographic, menstrual, reproductive, educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare-access factors are appropriately controlled. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that endometriosis education has a significant positive impact on endometriosis symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. Students who receive structured and evidence-based endometriosis education are expected to demonstrate greater ability to recognize potential symptoms than students with limited exposure to endometriosis information. Increased awareness may help students understand that severe or persistent menstrual pain should not automatically be regarded as a normal part of menstruation and that concerning symptoms may require professional evaluation. Education may also correct misconceptions, reduce stigma, improve students' confidence in discussing menstrual and reproductive health concerns, and encourage appropriate healthcare-seeking. However, cultural beliefs, misinformation from peers and social media, embarrassment discussing menstrual symptoms, low health literacy, financial constraints, limited access to student-friendly reproductive health services, and fear of diagnosis may reduce the effectiveness of education programmes. The study therefore expects accessible, confidential, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and regularly reinforced endometriosis education to contribute significantly to improved symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on endometriosis education, symptom recognition, endometriosis awareness, women's reproductive health, menstrual health, university health services, reproductive health education, healthcare-seeking, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, universities, student health services, reproductive health clinics, healthcare providers, gynaecologists, nurses, community health workers, women's health organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving recognition of endometriosis among young women. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating endometriosis education into university health programmes, strengthening menstrual and reproductive health education, training healthcare providers and peer educators, developing culturally appropriate educational materials, improving access to confidential reproductive healthcare services, strengthening referral pathways, and promoting timely professional evaluation of persistent or severe symptoms among female university students across Nigeria.

Keywords: Endometriosis education, endometriosis symptom recognition, female university students, endometriosis awareness, menstrual health, reproductive health, women's health, reproductive health education, healthcare-seeking, Nigeria, public health.