THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON AGE AT MENARCHE IN NORTH BAČKA REGION (THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA)

Abstract

Objectives. Menarche occurrence is influenced by genetic and environmental or external factors. The influence of external factors that affect age at menarche vary in different populations. Material and methods. Anthropological survey was carried out in primary and secondary schools in rural and urban places of North Bačka region in Vojvodina (North part of the Republic of Serbia). The investigation was performed between 2017-2020, and the data used in this study represents a part from this large comprehensive anthropological survey. The study included a total of 1971 adolescent girls aged from 7 to 18 years, out of whom 514 (26.08%) had menarche. The survey used the status quo method to collect individual data on menarche. The following socio-economic and demographic parameters were examined: parents’ educational level, the number of children in the family, participation in sports activities outside of school, settlement size and nationality. Results. The present study showed that the average menarcheal age was 12.23 ± 1.18 years and the median equals 12.22 years. No relationship was observed with regard to external factors. Only with regard to sports activities outside of school, statistical differences were found. The onset of menarche in girls who practice some sport was somewhat earlier than in girls without any additional physical activity. Conclusions. The study shows that in the last few decades there has been a trend toward lowering of age at menarche in Serbian girls. It is also observed that differences in socio-economic conditions seem to be flattened between rural and urban places. Keywords: adolescent girls, menarche, external factors.