title: Menarche in Plateau State of Nigeria.
abstract: A study of the age of menarche was conducted in Plateau State of Nigeria during May and June 1984 on a cross-section of the population, which included 664 girls from two schools between the ages of 10 and 21 years using the status quo method. The mean age at which menarche occurred was estimated as well as the standard deviation. The results indicated a mean age of 13.5 years +/- 1.33 (S.D.) for the total population; 13.2 +/- 1.12 (S.D.) for the school in the state capital and 14.0 +/- 1.40 (S.D.) for the school in the rural area. There was a statistically significant difference between the age of menarche of girls in the three different social groups and a secular trend was discovered when menarchal age in this study was compared with a previous study in the same area of Nigeria. The mean menarchal age for Plateau State girls is comparable to other Nigerian studies but higher than current data on European and American girls.
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University of Jos.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D009549:Nigeria; D012015:Reference Standards; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors