NUTRITIONAL-STATUS AND AGE AT MENARCHE OF SENEGALESE ADOLESCENTS

Growth and maturation during adolescence has not been well described i n rural African populations, although it may represent the missing lin k between high levels of preschool stunting and nearly 'normal' adult heights. In 1995 the homes of subjects aged 10.3-17.5 years, living in a rural area of Senegal, were visited, and all adolescents present, 1 527 boys and 1126 girls, were included in the analysis. A number of gi rls were absent because they worked in the capital city Dakar. Residen t girls (n = 705) had significantly higher means than boys for all ant hropometric variables (weight, body mass index, arm circumference and muscle arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds), except f or height and head circumference. Girls who had just returned from sea sonal migration to Dakar (n = 415) were, on average, 2 kg heavier, but not taller, than resident girls (p < 0.0001). The girls fell off in h eight from 11 to 13 years compared to the NCHS reference and then 'cau ght up' until the age of 17, while boys fell off during the entire age span. Mean age at menarche was estimated at 16.1 years (95% fiducial CI: 15.8-16.4) from status quo data by probit analysis. No significant difference was found between residents and migrants. Postmenarcheal g irls had better nutritional status than premenarcheal girls in terms o f height, weight, body mass index, percentage body fat and arm muscle circumference (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, puberty, as assessed by age at menarche, is delayed by about 3 years in this population, probably due to malnutrition.