RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE AT MENARCHE AND ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS IN GIRLS AGED 12–17 YEARS IN THE POLOG REGION, NORTH MACEDONIA
Veton ADEMI, Muhamed TAIRI, Alajdin HASANI, Beshra ELEZI ADEMI, Ema BEXHETI, Sadi BEXHETI
Abstract
Background: Menarche is an important developmental milestone in a girl’s reproductive life. The early onset of pubertal development is a significant medical and social issue. It can result in increased morbidity and mortality in later life. This study aimed to investigate the age of menarche in girls (aged 12–17 years) in the Polog region and to compare the time at which they attain menarche to their peers in other regions and Europe.
Methods: Using a cluster sampling technique, data were collected from schools in the Polog region, North Macedonia. A total of 309 schoolgirls aged 12–17 years were considered a sample for this study. Analysis of results was conducted using statistical programs STATISTICA 10.0 and SPSS 20.0.
Results: This study revealed that more than 75% of girls had already attained menarche. Among them, 50% of girls experienced menarche within 12.4 ± 1.1 years. Furthermore, there was no difference in the age of menarche in terms of living area, and those who lived in rural and urban areas reached their menarche at the same age. It was observed that the menarcheal girls had increased values of body weight (p < 0.05), body height (p < 0.01), waist circumference (p < 0.05), and biacromial distance (p < 0.01) compared with their nonmenarcheal peers.
Conclusions: The participants in our study attained menarche at the same age as their peers in Europe. It was observed that some of the age groups of menarcheal girls had increased values in some anthropometric characteristics compared with their nonmenarcheal peers.
Pages: 299 - 308