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Effects of Perceived Trauma Levels of Women at Reproductive Age after Earthquakes on Their Menstruation Cycle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2025

Cansu Ağralı Open the ORCID record for Cansu Ağralı [Opens in a new window] ,
Fatma Keskİn Töre Open the ORCID record for Fatma Keskİn Töre [Opens in a new window] ,
Gülçin Nacar Open the ORCID record for Gülçin Nacar [Opens in a new window]  and
Simge Öztürk Open the ORCID record for Simge Öztürk [Opens in a new window]
Cansu Ağralı*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye, Turkey
Fatma Keskİn Töre
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
Gülçin Nacar
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Simge Öztürk
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Department, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: Cansu Ağrali; Email: agralicansu9@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the perceived trauma levels of women at reproductive age after earthquakes on their menstruation cycle.

Methods

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between March 17, 2023, and April 17, 2023, after the earthquakes that happened in Turkey on February 6, 2023 and affected 11 cities. The study was conducted with 355 women. Data were collected using an online questionnaire form prepared via Google Forms. Data collection was performed using a Participant Information Form and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale.

Results

According to the multiple regression analysis results, the significant predictors of perceived trauma levels after the earthquakes included the severity of dysmenorrhea (β-coefficient = 0.164, P = .007), characteristics of vaginal discharge (β-coefficient = 0.136, P = .027), and itching in the perineum (β-coefficient = −0.220, P = .001). These variables explained 12.4% of the total variance in the perceived trauma levels of the participants.

Conclusions

The perceived trauma levels of women after the earthquakes had significant effects on the severity of dysmenorrhea, characteristics of vaginal discharge, and itching in the perineum. Health professionals should not overlook the effects of women’s perceived trauma levels on their menstruation cycles after earthquakes and evaluate the issue considering these aspects.

Keywords

disasterearthquakeposttraumatic stressmenstruation cyclewomen

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e237
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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