Primary Headache Disorders at a Tertiary Health Facility in Lagos, Nigeria: Prevalence and Consultation Patterns

Abstract

Background. Primary headaches are underdiagnosed and undertreated, with a significant impact on social activities and work.Aim.To determine the last-year prevalence and health care utilization pattern of primary headaches at a tertiary centre.Methods.A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst staff of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. 402 staff members were selected by simple random sampling and administered a detailed structured headache assessment questionnaire. Migraine and tension-type headache were diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Headache Society (2004).Results.The participants comprised 168 males and 234 females. The mean age was36.9±7.9years. The overall headache prevalence was 39.3% with female predominance (P<0.0001). Tension-type headache was the most prevalent at 72.8% and migraine at 18.9%. Unclassifiable headache constituted 8.2%. Migraine headache showed female preponderance (P=0.000). 80.4% of participants did not seek medical consultation compared with 19.6% who did (P=0.000). Of the latter, 83.9% consulted the general practitioner (GP), whilst 16.1% consulted the neurologist.Conclusions.Primary headache prevalence is high in our population. It is not recognised as that requiring care by most of the staff of this tertiary health facility; thus education is required to increase health care utilization.