title: Age at menarche among school girls in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Menarche, the first menstrual period, is influenced by many factors including socio-economic status and rural or urban dwelling. The aims of the study were to compare the age at menarche between rural and urban girls and evaluate the anthropometric indices at menarche.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of rural secondary school girls and urban school girls. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on their age at menarche and other relevant data. Their weights and heights were measured using computerized scales and calibrated walls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty eight (228) rural girls and four hundred and eighty (480) urban girls that had attained menarche within a year were studied. Mean age at menarche for all the girls was 15.26 years. Mean menarcheal age for the rural and urban girls were 15.32 years and 15.20 years, respectively. Mean weight and height were 47.6 kg and 156.76 cm, respectively for the rural girls and 48.12 kg and 156.8 cm, respectively for the urban girls. There was no significance difference in age of menarche among the groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean age at menarche for the school girls is 15.26 years. There was no difference in menarcheal age between the rural and urban school girls. Further longitudinal studies to compare rural school girls and urban school girls in private schools are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. karimatunau@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tunau
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Adamu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ekele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008572:Menarche; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D009549:Nigeria; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population