Growth status and menarche in urban and rural China.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between current age at menarche and growth status in an urban and rural area of Eastern China.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey: self-completion questionnaire and anthropometry in 12 schools in urban Hangzhou and rural Chunan in Zhejiang Province.


RESULTS
The median menarcheal age calculated by probit analysis was significantly different in the two areas: 12.8 years (SD 0.9) in the urban area and 13.2 (SD 1.0) in the rural area (p < 0.001). Girls who reach menarche are significantly heavier and taller with higher BMIs than those of the same age who are pre-menarche. After adjustment for BMI and other possible confounders, urban girls were still menstruating significantly earlier than girls in rural areas (OR 3.3, 2.1-5.2).


CONCLUSIONS
The age of menarche is probably still declining in China. Although BMI is an important factor in the onset of menstruation, some other unmeasured environmental variable may be implicated in this population.
Hesketh
Therese
T
Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. hesketh@mail.hz.zj.cn
Ding
Qu Jian
QJ
Tomkins
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population