Adolescents Nutritional Association (Micronutrients) with Menarche: Role of Health Schemes and Services in India

Menarcheal age in adolescent girls marks an important health concern in women's biology. The timing of menarche is an important determinant of Population size, Reproductive health and is an important factor of Health planning. The paper aimed to find the current mean age at menarche in India and its Nutritional association with micronutrients (given the role of government schemes and services). To fining out about the same the Menarcheal age group of (10-19 years) in India are examined. Binary logistic regression model is used to to estimate the association in the Menarcheal age among the Adolescent using the Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey. The mean age at menarche among adolescents stands at 9.07 years (95% C.I.: 8.990,9.166), including the non menstruating girls within the concerned age group,the mean age was 12.815 years (95% C.I.: 12.837,12.793). Girls with anemia are more likely to have their menarche 0.364 years higher than girls who are non amenic. The mean age at menarche is 0.72 years more likely to occur among those who have multivitamin tables/ syrup. The study concludes that over the time the age at menarche has declined rapidly with economic growth, urbanisation, Improvements in the Nutritional intake ( addition of Micronutrients also seen a contributing factor). The area of concern with regard to Micronutrients supplementation is that, it is done so to provide proper nutritional factors but on the other hand is also causing early Mnearche that most of the Health scientists warned and seen it as a cause for ovarian, breat cancers and other diseases amongst girls in future. Hence its imprtant to keep a proper check on the dietary intake among girls at early stages of life.

Modeling Age at Menstrual Onset and Developing Menarcheal Life Table

Population scientists are generally developing mathematical models/techniques in demography and to provide brief explanation of extensive data sets. The prime objective of the present paper is to propose a probability model to illustrate the distribution of female’s age at first menstrual onset. Menarcheal age distribution is used to evaluate risk associated to reproductive issues and may be used as a demographic indicator of female fecundity. The suitability of proposed model is tested with the real data sets. Parameters of the proposed distribution have been estimated through least square estimation technique. It is observed that older female’s age at menarche is somewhat higher than the younger female’s age at menarche. Also we have constructed a life table for menarcheal age using a probability model. This life table is enable to provide expected duration of getting menarche for a girl of a particular age.

Maternal investment, life-history trajectory of the off-spring and cardiovascular disease risk in Emirati females in the United Arab Emirates

Background Variations in cardiovascular disease risk (CVD) are suggested to be partly influenced by factors that affect prenatal growth patterns and outcomes, namely degree of maternal investment (proxied by birth weight and gestational age). Using the life history trajectory model, this study investigates whether maternal investment in early prenatal life associates with menarcheal age and whether maternal investment affects CVD risk in adulthood and predicts adult size and adiposity levels. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 94 healthy Emirati females. Birth weight, gestational age and menarcheal age were obtained. Anthropometrical measurements, body composition analysis, and blood pressure values were collected. Regression analyses were conducted to establish associations. Results There was no association between birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) and age at menarche. When investigating the associations of birth weight SDS and age at menarche with growth indices, it was found that only birth weight was positively and significantly associated with both height (β = 1.342 cm, 95% CI (0.12, 2.57), p = 0.032) and leg length (β = 0.968 cm, 95% CI (0.08, 1.86), p = 0.034). Menarcheal age was significantly and inversely associated with fat mass index (FMI) (β = − 0.080 cm, 95% CI (− 0.13, − 0.03), p = 0.002), but not with waist circumference and fat free mass index (FFMI) (p > 0.05). Birth weight SDS was positively and significantly associated with waist circumference (β = 0.035 cm, 95% CI (0.01, 0.06), p = 0.009), FMI (β = 0.087 cm, 95% CI (0.01, 0.16), p = 0.027), and FFMI (β = 0.485 cm, 95% CI (0.17, 0.80), p = 0.003). Birth weight SDS was not significantly associated with either systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p > 0.05). However, FMI, waist circumference, and FFMI were positively and significantly associated with SBP. Regarding DBP, the relationship was negatively and significantly associated with only FFMI (β = − 1.6111 kg/m2, 95% CI (− 2.63, − 0.60), p = 0.002). Conclusion Although the results do not fully support that Emirati females fast-life history is associated with increased chronic disease risk, the data does suggest a link between restricted fetal growth in response to low maternal investment and metabolic and reproductive health.

Age at Menarche, Menstrual Characteristics and Associated Factors among Adolescent Girls in Indigenous Population in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Aim:Age atmenarchevaries among different populations, and isdependent on interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the age at menarche, menstrual characteristics and associated factors among adolescent girls in indigenous population in Niger Delta region, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study on 903 adolescent school girls from 6 secondary schools in Rivers state selected by multi-staged random sampling technique. Place and Duration of Study: Indigenous ethnic populations in urban and rural (coastal rural and upland rural) areas in Rivers state were surveyed between April and June 2019. Methodology: Data collected with questionnaire: menarcheal age, menstrual and demographic characteristics of participants. Results: Age at menarche was12.10±1.37years, while urban area had11.62±0.13, coastal rural (11.69±0.04) and upland rural (13.24±0.10) years;with early menarche (10%) and delayed menarche (5%). Geographical area, ethnicity and fathers’ occupation significantly (P=0.001) influenced menarcheal age; with Ethnic groups: Ekpeye (12.96±1.36) >Ogoni (12.89±0.71) >Ikwerre (12.43±1.72) >Kalabari (11.69±0.99); Fathers’ occupation: Professionals/public servants (11.82±1.14) and fishing (11.75±0.94) < artisans/traders (12.02±1.36) and farming (12.69±1.45). Menstrual cycle length (days), was 28.04±1.57 (21-35), with majority (91.50%) having 26-30 days; and significantly different among geographical area (P=0.003), and ethnicity (P=0.001). Menstrual bleeding duration (days) was 4.55±1.03 (2-7), with majority (72.1%) having 4-5 days;and is statistically different according to geographical areas (P=0.001), ethnicity (P=0.001), and fathers’ occupation (P=0.14). Dysmenorrhoea was experienced by majority (56.6%) of subjects, and associated with increase in menarcheal age (P=0.01) and menstrual cycle length (P=0.001). Conclusion: This study shows a low age at menarche, with earlier onset in urban and coastal rural areas than in upland rural areas. Ethnicity and geographical area, strongly influenced the menarcheal age and menstrual characteristics of subjects.

Patterns and Differentials of Onset of Menstruation among School Girls in Chittagong Metropolitan Area of Bangladesh

Onset of menstruation is the biological and physical indicator, which is one of the important components of female reproductive characteristics. Considering its importance in the context of reproductive health and fertility, the aim of this study is to determine the mean age at menarche and also to investigate the patterns and differentials of such an important vital event of the randomly selected girls aged 9-15 years from the schools of Chittagong metropolitan area. The results of this study show that the overall mean menarcheal age of the selected girls is only 11.75±0.97 years with significant variations by their background characteristics. The co-efficient of variation (8.3%) indicates that there exists extreme heterogeneity in menarcheal age of the respondents. Co-efficient of skewness (β1=0.15) and excess of kurtosis (γ2=0.35) reflect that the shape characteristics of age at menarche is positively skewed and leptokurtic. The mean age at menarche is computed as relatively low (11.37 years) among the respondents residing in the metropolitan areas. The mean age at menarche is found the highest (12.01 years) among the underweight and the lowest among overweight (11.43 years) girls. The results from the life table technique show that unexpectedly 1.2% girls likely to attain menarche only within age of 9.67 years. The value of spread (s=16 months) shows extreme heterogeneity in menarcheal age. The values of trimean of onset of menstruation for underweight, normal and overweight girls are found 11.83, 11.58 and 11.41 years respectively. The Chittagong Univ. J. Sci. 40(1) : 178-199, 2019

Association patterns between 2D:4D ratio and age at menarche: the impact of methodology

The ratio of index finger to ring finger length (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic feature and widely used as an indicator of prenatal androgen-estrogen exposure. Several studies have investigated the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and the onset of the first menstrual period (menarche) in women.The present study tested the association patterns between 2D:4D ratio and age at menarche. Furthermore, the impact of methods of measuring finger lengths was considered.Two samples were used to conduct the study. One sample consisted of 110 women who self-measured their finger lengths. The finger length measurements in the second sample (88 women) were taken from one trained observer using the caliper-based technique. Age at menarche was determined using a retrospective method.Women from the first sample reported an average age for the onset of the first menstrual bleeding at 12.9 (SD = 1.4) years of age. There was no significant association between the left and right 2D:4D ratio and the age at menarche. The second sample showed a mean age at menarche at 12.8 (SD = 1.3) years of age. Here, the right hand 2D:4D ratio and age at menarche were significantly correlated (p<0.001).A more feminine 2D:4D ratio was significantly associated with an earlier menarcheal age only in the sample with direct finger length measurements by a trained investigator. The sample using self-measurements yielded no significant associations between menarcheal age and 2D:4D. The use of a reliable and well-founded methodology is essential for obtaining meaningful results.

The affected factors of puberty and menstrual disturbances among female students at Al-Andalus university

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The aim of the study was to determine the pubertal, menarcheal age and menstrual disturbances, and the factors affecting them, during the war in Syria, among AL-Andalus university female students.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A self-reported questionnaire was answered from 156 students. The questions were about socio-demographic information, reproductive and menstrual patterns, and the participants' lifestyle. Inclusion criteria included girls 17 to 25 years old, no systemic diseases and completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire was answered in the university. The researchers clarified the aim of the study and got the voluntary consent. The data of 148 girls were entered intoSPSS. Exclusion criteria excluded girls (≤17 and ≥25) years and those who did not complete the questionnaire. The study was conducted from 20 January 2020 to 20 March 2020.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> 148 cases were analyzed. The mean age of puberty and menarche of our students are 12.38±1.41 and 13.38±1.35 years respectively. Fast food and changing adopted place have a significant association with menstrual disturbances (p&lt;0.05). Blood group, faculty, weight and the mother's menarcheal age have no effects on them (p&gt;0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Not found any change in the age of puberty and menarche, but this does not prevent to make more studies in different places in Syria in the future.</p>