ABSTRACT
The relationship between anthropometry, body composition and reproductive characteristics in women has been a subject of interest currently for biological anthropologists. The study investigates the relationship between anthropometry, body composition and menstrual characteristics of women from Kaduna and Rivers State of Nigeria. Participants were non pregnant women randomly selected from four (4) tertiary schools: Kaduna (n=387) and Rivers (n=401). Data was analysed using Sigma Stat version. Data obtained showed that limb circumferences of Kaduna females are significantly higher than Rivers females (p<0.05) except for the thigh circumference. While, weight, height, iliac and tricep skinfold of Rivers state women was significantly higher than Kaduna females (p<0.05). Muscle mass, percentage body fat, basal metabolic rate and metabolic age of Rivers women was significantly higher than that of their Kaduna counterparts at a significant level of p< 0.05. This study showed the incidence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity as (38) 9.8%, (249) 64.3%, (78) 20.2%, and (22) 5.7% respectively for women from Kaduna; (40) 10%, (253) 63.1%, (80) 20% and (28) 7.0% respectively for women from Rivers. Results also showed that age had a significant association with BMI (River: χ2=38.585, p=0.000; Kaduna: χ2=19.323, p=0.023). This study also demonstrates that the frequency of underweight and normal weight women from Rivers and Kaduna decreases beyond 20 to 23 years, while obesity was maximum within 24-26 years for both states, overweight was maximum within 23-26 years. Waist circumference (WC) showed the strongest significant (p < 0.05) partial correlation with BMI and PBF (0.83 and 0.83, respectively). Hip circumference (HC) was also found to be significantly correlated with BMI (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and PBF (r = 0.86; p < 0.001). This study showed that body weight, BMI, biceps and iliac skinfold correlated positive with all body composition parameters except for total body water and physique rating which showed negative correlation. The study showed that the mean age at menarche was higher in Rivers women than Kaduna women, but no significant difference. The minimum and maximum menarcheal age for this study was ten (10) and nineteen (19) years respectively. Results showed that, 311 (80.4%) of Kaduna females and 288 (71.8%) of Rivers females experienced regular menstrual cycle; 245 (63.3%) of Kaduna females and 324 (80.8%) of Rivers females experienced a menstrual flow duration of four to six xx days. Study participants experienced at least one PMS (Kaduna: 387; 100%; Rivers: 366; 91.3%) and SDM (Kaduna: 367; 95.1%; Rivers 397; 99%); comparison of PMS and SDM between subjects from the two states showed significant difference (χ2= 35.348, p=0.000 and χ2= 10.637 and p=0.001, respectively). This study showed the incidence of minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression as 257 (66.4 %), 76 (19.6 %), 39 (10.1 %), 15 (3.9 %) respectively for women from Kaduna; 270 (67.3 %), 86 (21.4 %), 35 (8.7 %), 10 (2.5 %) respectively. Generally, Rivers women presented higher anthropometric variables and body composition but a lower arm, forearm, and calf circumference than their counterparts from Kaduna state. In Kaduna women, weight can be used to predict all body composition parameters except bone mass, BMI can be used to predict all body composition parameters except bone mass and physique rating, sum of skinfold can also be used to predict body composition parameters except for bone mass, muscle mass and Basal metabolic rate (BMR). In Rivers women, weight can be used to predict body composition parameters, BMI can also be used to predict body composition parameters except for total body water, sum of skinfold can also be used to predict body composition parameters except for bone mass. In women from Kaduna, there was significant association between calf, chest and waist circumference with DS. Percentage body fat also showed association with DS. In Rivers women, there was no significant association between anthropometric parameters and body composition parameters with DS.