Recall Menarcheal Age among the Adolescent Girls-A Comparative Study
Background:Age at menarche is the last major event of sexual development. This major event in the life of an adolescent girl is influenced by nutritional status and the prevailing environmental conditions. Objective: To examine the recall age at menarche among the adolescent girls of Scheduled caste (SC) and neighboring Meitei girls of the Imphal west district, Manipur. Setting: The study was conducted in four different villages, i.e. Sekmai, Potshangbam, Tengdongyang, and Khonghampat in Imphal district, Manipur. Design: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Subject and Method:A total of 417 (Scheduled caste) and 409 (Meitei) girls ranging in age 10-18 years were randomly selected from the above-mentioned villages of Manipur. Pre-tested interview schedule forms were used to collect the data of the present study. Result: Among the participants, the maximum number of SC girls (33.76%) and Meitei girls (34.10%) reported to occur menarche at age 14 years and 13 years,respectively.