Jones_et_al_Age_at_menarche_and_the_evidence_for_a_positive_secular_trend_in_urban_South_Africa_Am_J_Hum_Bio_2009.pdf (121.39 kB)
Age at menarche and the evidence for a positive secular trend in urban South Africa
journal contribution
posted on 2010-06-30, 15:22 authored by Laura L. Jones, Paula GriffithsPaula Griffiths, Shane A. Norris, John M. Pettifor, Noel CameronMenarcheal age was estimated for 287 (188 Black; 99 White) urban South African
girls born in Soweto-Johannesburg in 1990. The median menarcheal age for Blacks
was 12.4 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.2, 12.6) and 12.5 years (95% CI
11.7, 13.3) for Whites. Data from six studies of menarcheal age, including the
current study, were analyzed to examine the evidence for a secular trend between
1956 and 2004 in urban South African girls. There was evidence of a statistically
significant secular trend for Blacks, but not Whites. Average menarcheal age for
Blacks decreased from 14.9 years (95% CI 14.8, 15.0) in 1956 to 12.4 years (95% CI
12.2, 12.6) in the current study, an average decline of 0.50 years per decade. Fewer
data were available for Whites, but average menarcheal age decreased from 13.1
years (95% CI 13.0, 13.2) in 1977 to 12.5 years (95% CI 11.7, 13.3) in the current
study, an average decline of 0.22 years per decade. The diminishing age at
menarche and the current lack of difference between Blacks and Whites is probably
reflective of the continuing nutritional and socio-economic transition occurring within
South Africa.
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Research Unit
- Socio-economic status and child/adolescent health in Johannesburg-Soweto Study
Citation
JONES, L.L. ... et al, 2009. Age at menarche and the evidence for a positive secular trend in urban South Africa. American Journal of Human Biology, 21 (1), pp.130-132.Publisher
© Wiley-Liss, Inc.Version
- SMUR (Submitted Manuscript Under Review)
Publication date
2009Notes
This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: JONES, L.L. ... et al, 2009. Age at menarche and the evidence for a positive secular trend in urban South Africa. American Journal of Human Biology, 21 (1), pp.130-132, which has been published in final form at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/37873/homeISSN
1042-0533Language
- en