Prevalence and Triggering Factors of Headache among Jordanian Adolescents in Al-Mafraq Region

Abstract

Aims. This study evaluates the epidemiology of headache and migraine among adolescents aged 12 to 15. Methods. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted to collect and analyze data from students in grades 7-10 over the course of one month, using a simple random sampling method. The overall number of participants in this study was 692, with an average age of 13.9 years (SD = 1.3). Descriptive measures and Fisher's exact test were computed. Multivariate regression was calculated to assess the predictors of headache and migraine. Findings. Approximately one-half of the students reported having headaches: tension-type headaches (10.3%), migraines (4.8%), and other headache types (31.5%). Moreover, girl students in the age group of 14-15 reported more headaches and migraines. Conclusion. The prevalence of headache and migraine in Jordan is high and increasing as students grow older. Health education programs led by school nurses and other healthcare practitioners are urgently needed.