| Summary: | A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Family Medicine. Johannesburg, 2017. === Introduction
Headache disorders are prevalent in society and the number of adults suffering with an active headache disorder is increasing. Unfortunately the magnitude of this problem has been underestimated, and this has resulted in many headache sufferers being misdiagnosed or sub-optimally managed. Headache is a very common problem that is seen during primary health care consultations and should thus be given the priority it deserves. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of headaches seen at a district hospital.
Methods
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Out-Patient Department of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital which is located in the West Rand District, South Africa. Of the 206 participants approached, 203 consented to participate in the study. The ICHD-II criteria were used to guide diagnosis of the participants. Consecutive study sampling was used for a period of just under 6 months. Results were reported as frequencies and means, and Chi-squared tests were carried out.
Results
The response rate was 98.5%. Primary headache disorders were more prevalent compared to secondary headache disorders (69.95% vs. 30.05%). Fifty four percent of the participants suffered from tension type headache. Infections were the commonest cause of secondary headache disorders (34%). Middle aged black females were most commonly affected by the headache disorders. Tension headache is three times more likely to be seen in an unemployed participant than an employed person (OR-3.2, p-0.01, 95% CI: 1.50-7.08). Non-infectious secondary headache disorders are 14 times more likely to be seen in those who are White than those who are Black (OR- 13.8, p-0.015, CI. 1.67-114.14).
Conclusion
Headache disorders are a significant cause of morbidity among those who attend the OPD of Dr. Yusuf Dadoo hospital and more needs to be done in addressing this issue. Further studies should be embarked on with the aim of closely looking at the psychosocial impact headache disorders have on patients. === LG2018
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