Girls Of Same Age Research Articles

Sexual maturation in girls: association with physical activity and sedentary behaviour

Abstract Introduction During adolescence, physical activity tends to decline, especially among girls. Adolescent inactivity is due in part to biological factors, among which pubertal development may play a role. Our aim was to study in girls, the relationship of sexual maturation based on menarche with physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Methods Analyses were based on a two-stage random sample of 3,911 10-15-year-old girls included in the 2018 cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey carried out in French-speaking schools. Menarche, sufficient levels of physical activity (PA) (global PA: at least 60 min. of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA daily, and vigorous PA: at least 3 times/week), sedentary week time based on all-screen use duration (SWT; categories based on tertiles), and sociodemographic characteristics were self-reported. Multilevel multiple binary (for PA) and multinomial (for SWT) logistic regressions were performed, stratified by age group (≤12.5 years vs. >12.5 years). Results Twenty percent of girls aged ≤ 12.5 years and 85.0% of girls aged > 12.5 years have had their first period. Within the group aged ≤12.5, post-menarcheal girls were more likely to spend long SWT (≥8h/day) than pre-menarcheal girls (vs. short SWT (<4h/day): aRRR= 1.74 [1.27-2.37]; NS for moderate SWT (4-7h/day)). Within those aged >12.5, post-menarcheal girls were less likely to engage in sufficient vigorous PA (aOR=0.76 [0.59-0.98]) than pre-menarcheal girls. Moreover, they were more likely to spend moderate (aRRR=1.70 [1.19-2.42]) and long SWT (aRRR=2.74 [1.94-3.88]) than pre-menarcheal girls of same ages. Additional adjustments for age modified the strength of associations. Conclusions Our results suggest that during adolescence, the physiological changes induced by sexual maturation may contribute to the decline in physical activity (in > 12.5 years), and in the increase in sedentary behaviour in girls. Potential confounding by age will be explored further. Key messages Development of strategies aimed at improving physical activity among adolescent girls should take into account, among other aspects, pubertal development. Specific interventions, targeting pubescent girls, should also be developed to reduce screen time in order to prevent its potential negative consequences.

Comparison of Health status among married and unmarried girls of late adolescent age in an urban slum of Delhi

Background: Late adolescent girls are being forced into marriage and the burden of marital responsibilities, most notably partner’s sexual demands and childbearing and child-rearing, led to significant emotional distress and depression. Thus, early marriage for girls might have profound impact on their health status. Aims & Objectives: To study impact of early marriage on health status of married girls of late adolescent age and to compare them with unmarried girls of same age. Material & Methods: A comparison study was conducted among girls of late adolescent age in an urban slum of North East Delhi. One sixty study participants were included in each group. A pretested interview schedule was used for collecting details such as knowledge on reproductive health, physical parameters and anemic status. Chi square tests were used and odds ratio was calculated. Results: Majority of married girls, 102(63.8%) had middle school education while 93(58.1%) of unmarried girls had high school education. The mean (SD) age of marriage of married adolescent girls was 17(±) years while their husband age at time of marriage was 21.6(±) years. Levels of hemoglobin were low in both groups 87.5% in married girls and 98.75% in unmarried girls. Conclusion: Early marriage was found to have impact on menstruation, reproductive health and nutritional status of adolescent girls.

Dietary heavy metal exposure of Finnish children of 3 to 6 years

ABSTRACTThe dietary exposure of Finnish 3-year-old and 6-year-old children to cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury was determined using concentration data from Finland and individual food consumption data as well as individual weights of the children. Using middle bound estimates, 88% of the 3-year-olds and 64% of the 6-year-olds exceeded the tolerable weekly intake of cadmium. The benchmark dose for neurological damage caused by lead was exceeded by 14% and 1%, while the lowest benchmark dose of inorganic arsenic was exceeded by 43% and 29% for the 3-year-olds and 6-year-olds, respectively. The exposure of both age groups was below the tolerable weekly intake for inorganic mercury and methyl mercury. Although high, the exposures calculated with predominantly national concentration data were lower than previously estimated by EFSA, due to, for example, lower average concentrations in some much-consumed foods. The heavy metal exposure levels of the girls and the boys were also compared. Exposure to cadmium and lead was significantly higher for the boys than for the girls in both age groups, and exposure to inorganic arsenic was significantly higher for the 6-year-old boys than the girls of same age.

Are two doses of human papillomavirus vaccine sufficient for girls aged 15–18 years? Results from a cohort study in India

Extending two-dose recommendations of HPV vaccine to girls between 15 and 18 years will reduce program cost and improve compliance. Immunogenicity and vaccine targeted HPV infection outcomes were compared between 1795 girls aged 15–18 years receiving two (1–180 days) and 1515 girls of same age receiving three (1–60–180 days) doses. Immunogenicity outcomes in 15–18 year old two-dose recipients were also compared with the 10–14 year old three-dose (N = 2833) and two-dose (N = 3184) recipients. The 15–18 year old two-dose recipients had non-inferior L1-binding antibody titres at seven months against vaccine-targeted HPV types compared to three-dose recipients at 15–18 years and three-dose recipients at 10–14 years of age. Neutralizing antibody titres at 18 months in 15–18 year old two-dose recipients were non-inferior to same age three-dose recipients for all except HPV 18. The titres were inferior to those in the 10–14 year old three-dose recipients for all targeted types. Frequency of incident infections from vaccine-targeted HPV types in the 15–18 year old two-dose recipients was similar to the three dose recipients. None of the girls receiving two or three doses had persistent infection from vaccine-targeted types. These findings support that two doses of HPV vaccine can be extended to girls aged 15–18 years.

EPA-1177 – Clinical and psychological investigation of cognitive activity at young patients with anorexia nervosa

Introduction Cognitive deficits at young patients (children and adolescents) with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa) aren’t investigated sufficiently. Well known that the disease has different forms in children and teenagers and is accompanied by significant changes in cognitive activity. Joint clinical and psychological qualification of cognitive disorders, personality characteristics and quality of life of children and teenagers with eating disorders hadn’t done. Objectives Diagnostic of cognitive deficits in children and teenagers with anorexia nervosa. Methods Clinical group (NAG) - 28 girls aged 8-16 years old (F50; F21). The patients were investigated in a hospital. Control group (CG) 18 girls of same age never attended by a doctor on mental disorders. Tests assessing cognitive processes: memory, attention, thinking. Results We have found cognitive disorders in girls with anorexia nervosa. The obtained data specifies cognitive deficits in different higher mental functions. Memory: decrease in volume voluntary memory, immediate and delayed. differences between NAG and CG were statistically significant (p Conclusions This study has identified the structure of cognitive impairments (memory, thinking, attention) in children and teenagers during the acute stage of the disease. General characteristics of cognitive impairment in anorexia nervosa in children reflects primarily acute condition, and only secondarily - projective, the specifics of the disease.

Growth and sexual maturity pattern of girls with mental retardation

Background:Growth of mentally retarded children differs from that of normal children. However, the adolescent growth and development of Indian mentally retarded children has not been studied.Aim:This study was conducted to evaluate the physical growth and sexual development of adolescent mentally retarded girls in North Indian population and to compare it with that of normal girls of same age group.Materials and Methods:One hundred mentally retarded (intelligence quotient (IQ) less than 70) and 100 normal girls between 10 and 20 years of age were categorized into 1-year age groups. Their height was measured and the sexual development was assessed based on breast development (BD) and pubic hair growth (PH) stages 1-5 on the basis of Tanner scale. The data was then compared between the two groups using Student's t-test. The mean age of menarche was calculated by applying Probit analysis.Results:The mean height of mentally retarded girls was significantly retarded as compared to normal girls at all ages; however, the mean height gain during 11-20 years was same in both the groups. The mentally retarded girls also showed significant retardation in PH growth at 15-17 years and in BD at 15-16 years of age.Conclusions:The physical growth and sexual development of adolescent mentally retarded girls was retarded as compared to the normal girls. The physical growth retardation occurred during early childhood (before 11 years), however the retardation in sexual maturity occurred during middle adolescence, between 15-17 years of age.

Dietary Practices among Adolescents: Do Boys Eat Better than Girls?

Adolescence is a unique period in life as it is a time of intense physical, psychological and cognitive development. This uniqueness puts the adolescence in a conflicting situation and stress which effect many developmental aspects of the personality. These developmental stages are closely linked with adolescent’s dietary practices. The present study was conducted to assess the dietary practices of adolescent boys and girls in relation to their mothers’ education. The total number of subjects was 702, age between 14-16 years, studying in randomly selected schools of District Chakwal. The study revealed that boys eat relatively better than the girls of same age despite of the fact that girls’ mothers were more educated than boys’ mothers at P. Value 0.002. Boys were taking more regular meals (78%) as compared to girls (62%). Education of mothers had no relevance with regularity of meals presumably because most of the mothers were either matriculate or had education up till Intermediate. A negligible number of mothers had a graduate level degree or higher. Dietary practices of the boys were better as compared to girls at P. Value < 0.002. Regularity in having breakfast was better in boys as compared to girls i.e. 87% boys and 64% girls. Almost similar pattern was observed in lunch consumption, where 80% boys and 70% girls were taking lunch regularly. Most of the male adolescents (89%) were taking their dinner regularly while only 65% female adolescents were regular in taking dinner. According to the participants’ major reasons for irregularity in meals were school timings as well as their own liking and disliking in having meals. Rice was the most favorite staple food among the participants. The tendency of skipping meals was also more prominent in girls which needs to be explored further.

Epidemiology of breast lesions in eastern Nigeria. A 10- year descriptive retrospective review.

Objective: The paper aims to review the ‘epidemiologic features of breast lesions in Eastern Nigeria’ using a 10 year data collected from January 1998 to December 2007, and update available literature on the prevalence of common breast lesions in our environment. It simultaneously compares these with previous studies done here. Background: Our population like others in Sub-Saharan Africa is unexplored in terms of reliable health data on breast lesions and it is also a poorly screened population with virtual absence of mammography. Histopathology Departmental records show that the prevalence of breast lesion is increasing, growing from a yearly all time low of 93 specimens in 1999 to 358 biopsies in 2006, a 285% increase. Design: Two thousand two hundred and seven breast specimens were received in our Histopathology Department from January 1998 to December 2007. It is a reference laboratory catering for nearly 30 million people. These were analyzed using simple percentages to update data on breast lesions in our environment.Results: The most common breast lesion is fibroadenoma with n = 674 (30.5%). Its mean age of presentation is 23.8 years Standard Deviation (SD) 7.4 years. All were diagnosed as palpable lumps, the average sizes of these lumps at presentation were 3.2cm x 2.3cm x 1.4cm. Next was fibrocystic change with n = 343 (15.5%), presenting later, average age 34.1 SD 11.8 years. They presented as breast lumps measuring 4.2cm x 2.6cm x 1.6cm larger than the later. Phylloide's tumor (benign variant) n = 87 (3.9%) was seen at a mean of 23.1years SD 7.8 years. Mean size of Phylloide's was 13cm x 10.5cm x 5cm. Carcinomas of the breast had n = 649 (29.4%) with 640 females and 9 males. The average age of male presentation was 57.2years. Female breast cancers constituted 98.6% of cases and generally the mean age of presentation is 41.6years SD 11.4. Forty four % of the malignant samples were mastectomies while 55% were breast lumps whose average sizes were 5.6cmx4cmx2.5cm with 72% lymph node positive at presentation. The rest 450 (12.7%) represented other benign lesions. Conclusions: The most common breast lesion in our environment is fibroadenoma, it is likely to present in a young woman in her early twenties, as a lump of size less than 3.5cm. Large breast lumps measuring more than 6cm in its longest diameter and presenting in girls of same age are likely to be benign Phylloide's. Breast cancer presentation occurs at a mean age of 41.6 years, with 72% of lymph nodes positive at presentation. The relatively large sizes of the breast lumps and absence of lumpless cases are in keeping with a poorly screened population. Keywords: Epidemiology, breast, lesions, Eastern Nigeria.

The Cultural Construct of Troubles with Boys in India

Familism in contrast to individualism is a significant reality for Indian families. Family organisation in India rests on age and sex hierarchy with the boys, men and older people being ascribed a higher status. There are usually clear demarcatio ns of the roles and responsibilities between men and women within families. This is a reality that a child even in 21 st century India learns and it is even expressed in various rituals, ceremonies, kin terminology and socialization practices. Hence, with this c ultural construct boys develop their attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and act accordingly. The amount of restrictions, pressures and reg ulations are there for girls are enormous, whereas for boys, all freedom, no restrictions and oppositions at all for their behaviour, ac tions and thoughts in any stages of their lives. Boys are overprotected, over cared and at the same time given total independence in the family. The immediate outcome is visible through boy's immaturity, dependency and learned helplessness owing to varied types of problems for themselves, their families and for the society in general. Present paper observes that boys are in trouble due to various cultural, social and familial factors such as - gender issues in development, learned helplessness among boys, more empowered girls than boys, impact of electronic media, peer pressures and traditional mind set. Further the paper tries to focus on the mental health status of the young preschool and school going boys and compare it with the girls of same age. It is interesting to find that the boys are more prone and susceptible to different emotional and behavioural problems than the girls. Thus, understanding and empowering the boys is essential and need of the day to maintain the balance in the society.

16 BONE MINERALIZATION IN PATIENTS WITH TURNER SYNDROME.

Turner Syndrome (TS) is associated with multiple malformations and skeletal abnormalities, including an alteration in bone mineralization (BM), present since infancy. We were interested in evaluating the current state of BM in TS patients. 30 patients (6 8/12 - 17 3/12 years) with cariotype certification of TS were studied. Antropometric characteristic were evaluated at birth and at the time of the study. In all of them, BM of whole body, spine and hip (femoral neck, trocanter and Ward's triangle) was performed using adual photon isotopic densitometer (Norland). They were compared with 93 normal girls of same ages. TS patients had lower weight and height at birth, a lower H/A and higher W/H adequation than controls, with significant difference. The percentage of adequations of BM of whole body in total bone mass (TBM) and bone mineral density (BMD) was significatively lower than in controls (63,0 ± 12,8 vs. 100,0 ± 18,6 and 87,3 ± 10,4 vs 100,1 ± 10,8 respectively). At spine level there were significative differences in TBM, BMC and BMD (72,2 ± 15,2 vs 100,0 ± 19,8; 81,1 ± 15.3 vs 100,0 ± 16,2 and 89,5 ± 16,2 vs 100,0 ± 15.7 respectively). In hip (neck, trocanter and Ward's triangle) the same high significative differences were observed. Stratificating the patients according to age, those under 10 6/12 years have a significantly lower BM, being these girls a risk group of severe osteoporosis and fractures in adult life.

Androgens and gonadotropins levels in precocious puberty (PP) and premature adrenarche (PA) in girls

Testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandroste rone (DHA), DHA-sulfate (DHA-S), FSH and LH were measured in 45 girls with PP and 35 with PA. In PP, plasma levels, ng/ml, (x ± sem) of T (0.14 ± 0.03) and A (0.47 ± 0.05) were higher than in normal girls of same age (p 0.4, p > 0.8). DHA (1.06 ± 0.12) was high in respect of age, but lower than normal P2 level (p 0.4, p > 0.8). DHA (2.78 ± 0.37) was higher than normal P2 level (p < 0.05) and far higher than in PP (p < 0.00001). DHA-S (212-3800 ng/ml) was also higher than in normal girls at P2 (p < 0.04). FSH (1.08 ± 0.14 mIU/ml) and LH (0.68 ± 0.07 mIU/ml) were lower than in normal girls at P2 (p < 0.01, p = 0.05). These results are consistent with a lack of adrenal maturation in PP and a lack of gonadotropic maturation in PA, suggesting that adrenal and ovarian pubertal maturations are relatively independant.