Comparison of Menarcheal Age, Socio-demographics and Anthropometrics of Hausa and Igbo Schoolgirls from Enugu and Kaduna States of Nigeria

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Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
The onset of menarche signals the start of women‘s reproductive life and is determined by genetics, race, environmental, nutritional habits, socioeconomic status, and exercise. The present study is primarily aimed at determining the mean menarcheal age of adolescent girls from Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups living in rural and urban regions. The study also compared the mean anthropometric dimensions of menstruating and non-menstruating girls. The study also examined the prevalence of premenstrual syndromes among these designated ethnic groups. A total of 800 secondary school girls participated in the study. Four hundred are from Hausa and four hundred from Igbo ethnic groups. One hundred and fifty out of the four hundred from each ethnic group reside in the rural region while another one hundred and fifty from each ethnic group reside in the urban region. The remaining two hundred subjects will constitute the non-menstruating group with hundred from each ethnic group of which fifty are residents of rural region and the remaining fifty from urban region. This cross-sectional study was conducted on girls aged 11-18 years old. Relevant data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire after which certain anthropometric measurements including weight, height, mid upper arm, waist, hip, chest, neck, thigh circumferences, waist-hip, waist-chest and waist-height ratios. There is statistical significant difference in the mean age at menarche of adolescent girls from Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups. The mean age at menarche was 13.54 ± 0.90 years, the mean menarcheal age of school girls from Hausa ethnic group was 13.65 ± 0.92 years while that of school girls from Igbo ethnic group was 13.44 ± 0.87 years. Similarly, the mean menarcheal age of girls from Hausa (rural, urban) and Igbo (rural, urban) ethnic groups were respectively (13.83 ± 0.95, 13.48 ± 0.86, t = -3.33, p < xxiv 0.01) years and (13.52 ± 0.87, 13.35 ± 0.88, t = -1.66, p > 0.05) years. The mean of the various anthropometric dimensions were significantly higher among the menstruating girls than the non-menstruating students (p < 0.001). Concerning birth order, first born girls reach menarche earlier than later born for girls from Hausa and Igbo ethnicity (F = 16.73, p < 0.01) and (F = 26.90, p < 0.01) respectively. Also, girls from small family size reach menarche earlier than their counterparts from large family size for girls from Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups (F = 12.13, p < 0.01) and (F = 37.72, p < 0.01) respectively. Parents‘ educational background also showed statistical significant influence on mean age at menarche. Girls whose any or both parents has tertiary educational background reach menarche earlier than girls whom neither of their parents has any form of formal education. Though paternal education showed statistical significant influence (F = 2.81, p = 0.04) while maternal educational background did not show statistical significant influence (F = 2.24, p = 0.08). Menarcheal age showed statistical significant inverse correlation with weight, BMI, chest and hip circumference (p < 0.05). Linear regression models for estimating menarcheal age from anthropometric and socio-demographic variables of girls from each ethnic group were generated. All subjects in this study reported at least one premenstrual syndrome or the other with varying degree of severity. There is however, no predilection in the incidence and severity of premenstrual syndrome based on ethnicity. The mean menstrual cycle length of most participants is 24 – 29 days (χ2 = 7.75, p = 0.02) while most participants reported a mean length of menstrual flow of 4 – 5 days (χ2 = 49.22, p < 0.01).