Sexual Maturation Pattern in Adolescent School Girls of Rural India: A Cross Sectional Study from Nagpur
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background:
Puberty is transformation of the child into an adult. It includes all the events of somatic and mental maturation. Secondary sex characters were also a part of this period. The objective was to assess the pattern of sexual maturation of adolescent school girls in rural India.
Methods:
This was a community based cross sectional study conducted among school children of Sevanand High school, Mahadula, Nagpur. 322 girls in the age group of 10-18 years were assessed for sexual maturation. The pubertal evaluation was made with reference to Tanner stages and grading was done as per Tanner’s scale. For statistical analysis, median and standard error along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Epi Info statistical package programme version 6.0 updated 2009. Statistical significance was assessed at a type I error rate of 0.05.
Results:
We found that pubertal changes appeared earlier in girls. The first to appear was breast development at a median age of 10.40 years. The last to appear was pubic hair development (PH5) at median age 16.87 years, the total time taken for complete sexual maturation being 6.38 years. Median age of menarche was found to be13.18 years.
Conclusion:
The pattern of sexual maturation in rural adolescent school children revealed that though puberty set in earlier in girls, but took longer time for complete maturation.
Article Details
References
Bagiu R, Doroftei S, Fira-Mladinescu C, Putnoky S, Petrescu C, Suciu O, Tuta-Sas I, Vlaicu B. Features of pubertal maturation in adolescents from Timis County. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2012;116:299-303.
Mendle J, Harden KP, Brooks-Gunn J, Graber JA. Development's tortoise and hare: pubertal timing, pubertal tempo, and depressive symptoms in boys and girls. Dev Psychol 2010;46:1341-53.
Rosen DS: Physiologic Growth and Development during Adolescence. Pediatrics in Review 2004; 25:194-200.
Raghwan V, Singh K, Darshan R, Swaminathan M: Heights and weights of well nourished Indian school children. Ind J Med Res 1971;59(4): 648-54
Piya-Anant M, Suvanichchati S, Bharscharirl M, Jirochkul V, Worapitaksanond S. Sexual maturation in Thai girls. J Med Assoc Thai 1997;80(9):557-64.
Rev Saude Publica. Analysis of agreement between self-reported and observed information on pubertal development among school girls. 1997;31(3):263-71.
Herman-Giddens ME, Steffes J, Harris D, Slora E, Hussey M, Dowshen SA et al. Secondary sexual characteristics in boys: data from the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network. Pediatrics 2012;130(5):e1058-68.
Semiz S, Kurt F, Kurt DT, Zeneir M, Sevine O. Pubertal development of Turkish children. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2008;21(10):951-61.
Ghaly I, Hussein FH, Abdelghaffar S, Anwar G, Seirvogel RM. Optimal age of sexual maturation in Egyptian children. East Mediterr Health J 2008;14(6):1391-99.
Tanner JM: Growth at adolescence.2nd edition, Oxford and London, Blackwell Scientific Publication.1962, pg. 32.
O'Connell A, Gavin A, Kelly C, Molcho M, Nic Gabhainn S. The mean age at menarche of Irish girls in 2006. Ir Med J. 2009 Mar;102(3):76-
Gupta N, Singh MP, Dhillon BS, Saxena NC. Preparing for adult hood-patterns of physical growth, sexual maturity and menarche of adolescent girls in selected urban slums and rural areas. J Indian Med Assoc. 2007;105(3):119-22.
Indian Council of Medical Research. Growth and physical development of Indian infants and children. Tech Report Series 1972; 18.
Kaul KK, Mukerjee B, Sundaram KR, Sawhney KS, Parekh P. Growth at adolescence I.A study of the development of secondary sex characters in urban girls. Ind Paed 1983; 20(4): 243-48.
Agarwal DK, Agarwal KN, Upadhyay SK, Mittal R. Physical and sexual growth pattern of affluent Indian children from 5-18 years of age. Indian Paediatrics 1992;29(10):1203-82.
Prabhakar A. K, Sundaram K.K, Tashakar A.D. Influence of socioeconomic factor of the age at the appearance of different puberty signs. Indian J Med research 1972;60(5):789-90.
Celio M, Karnik NS, Steiner H. Early maturation as a risk factor for aggression and delinquency in adolescent girls: A review. Int J Clin Pract 2006;60(10):1254-62.