Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, triggers, predictors, and educational impact of migraine headaches in female medical students at Jeddah University.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 384 female medical students in their second to sixth academic years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that experts in neurology and family medicine validated. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, general health status, headache history, triggers, and the impact of migraines on academic performance.
Results: The prevalence of migraine-like headaches among the participants was 33.9%, with a mean onset age of 17.6 ± 2.8 years. The most common triggers of migraine included irregular sleep (53.4%), anxiety (50.0%), and emotional stress (44.9%). Symptoms, including light sensitivity (65.3%) and nausea (51.7%), were frequently reported. Most students (71.2%) did not use prescription medications, with paracetamol being the most commonly used over-the-counter treatment (61.0%). A significant correlation was observed between migraine headaches and family history, chronic diseases, and psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression (p < 0.05). Migraine headaches negatively affected academic performance, with 35.6% of students reporting an effect on their grade point average (GPA). Moreover, high pain levels were associated with low GPA scores (p-value = 0.008).
Conclusion: This study highlighted the high prevalence of migraine among female medical students at Jeddah University, which significantly affects their academic performance and quality of life. Addressing the factors of trigger migraines might help mitigate the negative impact of migraines on educational outcomes and overall well-being.

Key words: Migraine, headache, medical students, females, Saudi Arabia