Anthropometric And Menstrual Characteristics Of Young Igbo Girls In South-East, Nigeria

Background: Anthropometric parameters are important tools in monitoring and evaluating physical changes associated with growth, puberty and sexual maturation of a girl child. Physical anthropometry provides parameters for monitoring and evaluating hormone mediated change in growth and maturation. The variability in menstrual pattern and menarche is common. Providing accurate information on menstrual characteristics is important for patient education and for clinical evaluation. The aims of this study were to determine the anthropometric and menstrual characteristics of young girls of south-eastern Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study of the anthropometric and menstrual characteristics of five hundred Igbo young girls from the five eastern states, aged9-25 years. The anthropometric parameters measured include height (H), weight (W) waist circumference (WC), Chest circumference (CC), Hip circumference (HC) biacromial diameter (BAD), biiliac diameter (BID) and BMI. Measurements were taken following standard protocol. The menstrual characteristics which include menarchael age, dysmemorrhea, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and others were obtained through questionnaire.  
Results: Anthropometric Parameters significantly differed across the five eastern states (p<0.05). The mean H, W, BMI, WC, CC, HC, BAD and BID of the subjects were 164±6.64 cm, 59.83±10.06 kg, 76.2±7.70 cm, 88.6±7.66 cm, 95.6±9.7 cm, 85.93±7.4 cm and 73.10±9.75 cm respectively . The mean menarcheal age was found to be 13.07±1.69 years; Mean menstrual cycle was 28.46±1.53 days. Mean menstrual bleeding was 4.30±0.96.
Conclusion: There is a significant difference in the anthropometric characteristics of females across the five states of the south east. The age at menarche varied with state, it occurred early in females from Abia and late in Anambra females. The reported menarcheal age in this study was comparable to a recent study but was however, early compared to the previous Nigerian studies.