Prevalence of Headache and its Relation to Absenteeism among a Sample Paramedical Students in Baghdad-Iraq

Hato  Juni, Faraj

	Prevalence of Headache and its Relation to Absenteeism among a Sample Paramedical Students in Baghdad-Iraq
Medical Journal of Babylon
Article 1, Volume 10, Issue 3, 2013, Pages 552-558
Author
Faraj Hato Juni
Abstract
Background: Headache is a world-wide problem that affects all ages, headache occur more in girls. Headaches can vary in frequency and severity of pain, some individuals may experience headaches once or twice a year. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rate of headache and its relation to absenteeism among paramedical students in technical medical institutes in Baghdad –Iraq. Subjects and materials: study design is cross–sectional study. Setting: This study was conducted from December 2010 to April 2011. The students ages ranged from 18 to 24 years. Sample Size: Total sample of 500 students, selected as statistic convenient . Results: The most common symptoms that occurred before headache were blurred vision 33.7%. The most common type of headache was described as sever headache 41.4% and unilateral 26.5%. The factor relieving of headache was rest 34%. The Absenteeism due to headache was 29.4%. Conclusion: The present study showed that the prevalence of headache was 85.1%. in the age group less than 22 years. It was higher among female students (83.4%) in comparison to males (82.3%). The students had more daily headache attacks 22%. The current study indicated that absenteeism among students due to headache was significantly associated with positive history of severe headache, positive history of unilateral headache and less frequent (weekly/ monthly/ variable) headache compared to daily attacks, but not significant statistically with gender, age and positive history of severe headache. Keywords: Headache, paramedical students, absentees.

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