PREVALENCE, PATTERN, DETERMINANTS AND EFFECTS OF HEADACHES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Headaches are a significant public health concern globally, affecting quality of life and daily functioning. Medical students are often predisposed to headaches due to high academic demands, stress, and sleep deprivation. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the prevalence, pattern, determinants and effects of headaches among medical students in University of Benin, Benin city, Edo State. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study design on a sample of 236 students selected using stratified sampling based on their level of study. A semi-structured, selfadministered questionnaire adapted from the HARDSHIP tool was used. RESULT: The study revealed that the largest proportion of respondents were aged 21-25 years (50.0%). A vast majority identified as Christian (97.5%). Most resided in school halls (64.8%). Headache experience was widespread, with 97.0% of respondents reporting having had headaches. Of those, 95.6% experienced headaches in the past year. The most prevalent type of headache was probable TTH (49%), followed by tension-type headaches (26%), probabale migraine (21%) and migraines (4%). Pain relief medication was used frequently. Headaches impacted class attendance and relationships. CONCLUSION: The results showed a high lifetime and recent prevalence of headaches, the commonest being probable TTH. Stress and sleep deprivation were reported determinants of headache, with significant effect on daily activities and academic performance. KEYWORDS: Headaches among medical students, Migraine, Tension-type headache, TTH, HARDSHIP questionnaire.