Menarche Age and Its Association to Body Mass Index and Socioeconomic Status Among School Girls in Sanandaj in North-West of Iran

Abstract

Objectives: The age of menarche can be different among girls based on region, ethnic, and some individual factors such as body mass index (BMI). Little is known about the menarche age in Kurdish girls. This study was conducted to determine the menarche age and its association to BMI and socioeconomic status among Kurdish schoolgirls. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 400 schoolgirls from different secondary and high schools in Sanandaj, northwest of Iran. Multi stage sampling was used to select the study samples. Data were collected using a checklist, which included demographic information and other variables under investigation. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression were used for data analysis. The significance level of the tests was considered to be 0.05. Results: The mean and standard deviation (SD) of menarche age was 12.87 ± 1.17 years. About 60.3% of girls had normal BMI and 31%, 6.8%, and 2% of them were underweight, overweight, and obese, respectively. There was a significant relationship between higher BMI (P = 0.02) and menarche age. Based on multivariate analysis, the chance of early menarche in children with higher BMI (≥ 25) was significantly 3.57 times higher than others (P = 0.004). There was no significant relationship between socioeconomic status, physical activity, and birth season, attitude towards menarche, nutritional status, and number of brothers with age of menarche. Conclusions: The results showed a significant relationship between menarche age and BMI. The age of menarche in our region was also different compared to other regions of the globe. The findings of the present study can be used by health policy makers for planning and conducting the interventional programs related to menarche in girls.