Table 1 Distribution of study population and linear regression of factors associated with total difficulties score (n = 3,841)

SDQ total difficulties score

Level 1 variables

Age

11–15 years old

1,919 (50.0)

11.66 (5.47)

0

0

16–17 years old

1,799 (46.8)

12.62 (5.66)

0.96 (0.60, 1.33)

0.55 (0.14, 0.97)

0.02

≥ 18 years old

123 (3.2)

13.16 (6.14)

1.49 (0.47, 2.51)

0.91 (-0.16, 1.99)

District

Kalungu

859 (22.4)

12.01 (5.42)

0

0

Wakiso

2,982 (77.6)

12.20 (5.65)

0.28 (-0.25, 0.80)

0.48 (-0.09, 1.03)

0.09

Student type

Day

2,124 (55.3)

12.23 (5.56)

0

0

Boarding

1,717 (44.7)

12.07 (5.66)

0.08 (-0.31, 0.46)

0.19 (-0.21, 0.58)

0.35

Household size

< 5 people

1,179 (30.7)

12.33 (5.42)

0

6–10 people

2,297 (59.8)

12.06 (5.66)

-0.25 (-0.65, 0.14)

-0.26 (-0.66, 0.13)

0.43

10 + people

365 (9.5)

12.22 (5.79)

-0.13 (-0.79, 0.53)

-0.17 (0.84, 0.49)

Socioeconomic status

Lowest

771 (20.1)

13.43 (5.65)

0

0

Medium-low

784 (20.4)

12.30 (5.48)

-0.49 (-1.05, 0.70)

-0.44 (-1.02, 0.14)

Medium

757 (19.7)

11.81 (5.62)

-0.10 (-0.67, 0.46)

0.07 (-0.52, 0.66)

< 0.001t

Medium-high

770 (20.0)

11.39 (5.41)

0.34 (-0.22, 0.91)

0.42 (-0.18, 1.02)

Highest

759 (19.8)

11.84 (5.64)

1.45 (0.87, 2.03)

1.55 (0.93, 2.17)

Caregiver education

More than secondary

1,007 (26.2)

11.95 (5.81)

0

0

Secondary

1,270 (33.1)

12.13 (5.48)

0.02 (-0.45, 0.48)

-0.21 (-0.70, 0.27)

0.13

Primary or less

904 (23.5)

12.64 (5.79)

0.47 (-0.05, 0.98)

0.11 (-0.44, 0.65)

Don’t know

660 (17.2)

11.87 (5.22)

-0.25 (-0.80, 0.30)

-0.51 (-1.08, 0.06)

Started menstruating

No

106 (2.7)

12.10 (5.45)

Yes

3,705 (96.5)

12.15 (5.61)

Don’t know

30 (0.8)

12.80 (5.77)

Years since starting menarche

< 2 years

937 (25.3)

11.71 (5.66)

0

0

2 years

1,281 (34.6)

11.85 (5.46)

-0.59 (-1.03, -0.15)

-0.60 (-1.04, -0.17)

0.02

> 2 years

1,487 (40.1)

12.69 (5.66)

-0.59 (-1.10, -0.09)

-0.57 (-1.07, -0.06)

Level 2 variables

Knowledge of menstrual pain management

Low 0/1

1,823 (47.5)

12.40 (5.69)

0

0

Medium 2/3

1,355 (35.3)

11.91 (5.55)

-0.20 (-0.72, 0.32)

-0.23 (-0.75, 0.30)

0.02

High 4/6

663 (17.2)

11.99 (5.47)

0.29 (-0.21, 0.79)

0.33 (-0.18, 0.84)

Knowledge of menstruation

Low 0/3

559 (14.6)

12.97 (5.62)

0

0

Medium 4/6

2,697 (70.2)

12.10 (5.59)

0.38 (-0.12, 0.88)

0.24 (-0.26, 0.75)

< 0.001t

High 7/9

585 (15.2)

11.63 (5.59)

1.24 (0.59, 1.89)

1.17 (0.50, 1.84)

Menstrual product used

Reusable only

638 (17.2)

13.15 (5.97)

0

0

Disposable only

2,460 (66.5)

11.68 (5.37)

1.34 (0.85, 1.83)

1.14 (0.65, 1.64)

< 0.001

Both reusable & disposable

603 (16.3)

13.05 (5.92)

1.36 (0.87, 1.86)

1.42 (0.92, 1.92)

Level 3 variables

Experience of menstrual pain

No pain

987 (26.7)

10.44 (5.25)

0

0

Pain with effective pain management

1,709 (46.1)

12.56 (5.51)

2.02 (1.59, 2.45)

1.60 (1.19, 2.01)

< 0.001t

Pain with no effective pain management

1,009 (27.2)

13.13 (5.76)

2.60 (2.12, 3.09)

1.81 (1.35, 2.27)

Menstrual practice needs scale

Low

1,232 (33.5)

14.75 (5.54)

0

0

Medium

1,214 (33.1)

12.05 (5.21)

2.40 (1.99, 2.81)

2.06 (1.64, 2.48)

< 0.001t

High

1,226 (33.4)

9.61 (4.81)

5.07 (4.66, 5.49)

4.40 (3.96, 4.84)

Self-efficacy of menstruation

Low

1,243 (33.6)

13.37 (5.60)

0

0

Medium

1,232 (33.2)

12.17 (5.55)

1.22 (0.78, 1.65)

0.66 (0.25, 1.07)

< 0.001t

High

1,230 (33.2)

10.90 (5.40)

2.44 (2.00, 2.87)

0.94 (0.51, 1.37)