A Study of Anthropometric and Socio-economic Factors Associated with Delayed Menarche in a Bengali Indian Population with Special Reference to BMI and 2D:4D Ratio

• Main Author: Suddhasatta Ghosh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara 2013-04-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: menarche; anthropometric; socio-economic; 2d; 4d ratio; smr; bmi
• Online Access: https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/5902

Introduction: The average age of menarche has declined over the last century but the magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible remain subjects of contention. Aims and Objectives: To study a group with delayed menarche in a cohort of Bengali Indian females with low to normal body weight. To investigate anthropometric characteristics (height, mid-parental height, weight, BMI), Socio-economic Status, Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) stages and 2D: 4D ratio ( ratio of lengths of second and fourth digits of both hands) in those with delayed menarche. To analyse the correlation of these factors with delayed age of menarche. Materials and Methods: A total of 614 children , aged 11- 16 completed years, of low to middle income family groups and attending suburban schools, were evaluated on the basis of predetermined questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Correlation of factors with delayed age of menarche was done by appropriate statistical methods Results and Analysis: Out of 190 children having delayed menarche (cases) and 424 children with normal age of menarche (controls) , the height percentile (p value: 0.642), BMI ( p value: 0.091), weight (p value: 0.12)and Mid-Parental Height (p value: 0.26) had no significant correlation , while SMR ( p value:0.00), 2D:4D ratio (p value:0.002) and low Socio-economic Status (p value: 0.00) had a significant correlation with delayed menarche. Conclusion: This study is the first to examine such a wide variety of anthropometric and socio-economic factors at a time in a single cohort of females with delayed menarche.