Prevalence and Knowledge of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Among African American Women

Overview

Journal Int J Gynaecol Obstet

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2014 Feb 4

PMID 24486125

Citations 17

Authors

Erica E Marsh

Maureen E Brocks

Marissa S Ghant

Hannah S Recht

Melissa Simon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To assess self-reported prevalence, knowledge, and health literacy regarding heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) among African American women.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey study was conducted. An original survey was developed and distributed to a convenience sample of African American women aged 18-60 years at a community fair in a large city in the Midwestern region of the USA.

Results: Of the 274 surveys distributed, 247 were returned, 193 of which met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 163 (84.5%) participants demonstrated adequate health literacy; however, 168 (87.0%) answered fewer than 8 of 15 knowledge questions correctly. Although 75 (38.9%) women reported seeing a clinician for HMB, 89 (46.1%) believed that there was nothing that they could do to prevent it from occurring.

Conclusion: The present study found that the proportion of HMB among participants was higher than the nationwide prevalence. However, a gap existed in knowledge of HMB among the women surveyed. The study findings indicate an opportunity for community-based education to raise awareness of HMB, its associated clinical presentations, and available treatment modalities.

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