Menstrual pain was linked to more missed school in Uganda
Students reporting menstrual pain missed more school. Reported pain relief was associated with better attendance, without establishing that relief caused the difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Menstrual pain and lack of reported relief were each associated with greater school absence. Students also described pain disrupting classroom participation. These findings highlight an attendance concern, but this observational analysis cannot establish whether pain management improved attendance or educational performance, or which strategy worked best.
The parent trial was randomized, but this analysis was cross-sectional. The abstract provides no quantified educational performance result, so attendance findings cannot establish better learning.
What researchers found
Monthly school absence: adjusted incidence rate ratio
Students with pain during their last period versus those without pain. The interval describes uncertainty around the relative rate of missed school days.
What researchers asked
Researchers used surveys, group discussions and individual interviews to examine menstrual pain, relief and schooling. This analysis explored associations with attendance and performance; it did not test a particular pain treatment.
Participation beyond attendance
Students described pain making it harder to engage in lessons. Many reported using pain management strategies, but reporting use of a strategy was distinct from reporting that pain was relieved.
The original publication
Menstrual Pain Management, School Absenteeism and Educational Performance Among Adolescent Students: Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Analysis Nested Within a Cluster Randomised Trial.
Namirembe P, Nassanga A, Baleke C et al.
BJOG · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41287224
- Record checked
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