A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Warm Water Intake in the Severity of Pain and Level of Menstrual Distress Among Adolescent Girls with Dysmenorrhea in a Selected Nursing College, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh

Adolescence represents a stage of inner emotional upheaval, a struggle between the wish to cling to the past and the equally powerful wish to move toward the future. Menstruation is a normal, healthy occurrence in adolescent girls that continues for many years. The first menstrual period is called menarche and usually begins between the ages of 11 and 14. In the days before menstruation, adolescents may feel tense or emotional, experience water retention and bloating, and have pain in the abdomen, back, or legs lasting several hours or more. Many women, across a range of different cultures, experience menstrual problems ranging from mild discomfort to acute pain; this is termed dysmenorrhea. Since drinking warm water plays a significant role in reducing vasopressin concentration, increased warm water intake may help reduce uterine contractions and diminish tension and fear, making it a potential natural pain reliever. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of warm water intake on the severity of pain and level of menstrual distress among adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea. A quasi-experimental, time-series design was used for the study “A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Warm Water Intake in the Severity of Pain and Level of Menstrual Distress among Adolescent Girls with Dysmenorrhea in a Selected Nursing College, Bhilai (C.G.)”. A total of 40 adolescent girls aged 17–21 years with dysmenorrhea, studying in a selected college in Bhilai (C.G.), were selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire for socio-demographic and menstrual variables, an assessment of pain severity (pain location and visual analogue scale), and a modified rating scale to assess the level of menstrual distress. Results: For severity of pain, the χ² value of 10.06 was greater than the critical value of 7.82 (df = 3, p< 0.05). For pain assessed using the visual analogue scale, χ² values of 11.78 and 22.22 were greater than the critical values of 11.34 and 13.27, respectively (df = 3, p < 0.01), indicating a statistically significant reduction in pain following warm water intake.