Prevalence and Predictors of Migraine Among Community Health Students in Kano State

Abstract

Background: Headache disorder is a prevalent health concern among students largely owing to academic and emotional pressures. Migraine severely affects students’ performance and productivity. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of migraine among community health students. The study further identified the headache characteristics, severity, triggers, coping strategies, and the impacts of migraine on the students. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among four hundred and one participants using an online pretested questionnaire. The ID-MigraineTM Scale, MIGSEV Scale, and Headache Impact Test (HIT)-6 Scale were used to identify migraineurs, determine migraine severity, and measure migraine impact, respectively. Relationships between variables were determined using the chi-square test at a significance level of P-value < 0.05. Results: The ID-MigraineTM test indicates a 25.7% prevalence of Migraine (103/401). Additionally, the prevalence was higher among those who were female (28%), single (96%), and had a family history of Migraine (79%). A significant portion, 83.5%, of students with Migraines experienced moderate headaches. The most reported triggers of Migraines among the students are stress (66.2%), hunger (39%), and too little sleep (32.5%), with most respondents reporting lying down/sleeping (72.1%), medication (34.4%), and being in a dark, quiet room (31.8%) as coping mechanisms for their headache. The majority (76%) stated that Migraines significantly interfere with their daily activities. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of Migraine and family history (P-value = < 0.001 < 0.05), average screen time (P-value = < 0.001 < 0.05), and gender (P-value = 0.006 < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of migraine among the students is high. It is necessary to emphasize stress management in order to alleviate the frequency of the condition and improve quality of life. Reducing the incidence of the condition requires raising awareness of potential triggers and how to prevent them.