Chinese National Survey of Students' Constitution and Health
Trend of age of menarche among Chinese Han girls aged 9 to 18 years from 2010 to 2019
Ma Ning, Shi Di, Cai Shan, Dang Jiajia, Zhong Panliang, Liu Yunfei, Li Jing, Dong Yanhui, Hu Peijin, Dong Bin, Chen Tianjiao, Song Yi, Ma Jun
Published 2023-04-06
Cite as Chin J Prev Med, 2023, 57(4): 486-491. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20220905-00872
Abstract
ObjectiveTo analyze the trends of the age of menarche among Chinese Han girls aged 9 to 18 years from 2010 to 2019.
MethodsData were extracted from the Chinese National Surveys on Students′ Constitution and Health in 2010, 2014 and 2019. A total of 253 037 Han girls aged 9 to 18 years with complete data on menarche were selected in this study. They were asked one-on-one about their menstrual status, age and residence information. The median age of menarche was estimated by probability regression. U tests were used to compare the difference in median age at menarche in different years.
ResultsThe median age at menarche (95%CI) among Chinese Han girls was 12.47 (12.09-12.83) years in 2010, 12.17 (11.95-12.38) years in 2014 and 12.05 (10.82-13.08) years in 2019, respectively. Compared with that in 2010, the median age at menarche in 2019 decreased by 0.42 years (U=-77.27, P<0.001). The annual average changes were -0.076 years from 2010 to 2014 (U=-57.19, P<0.001) and -0.023 years from 2014 to 2019 (U=-21.41, P<0.001), respectively. The average annual changes in urban areas in the periods of 2010 to 2014 and 2014 to 2019 were -0.071 years and 0.006 years, respectively, while those in rural areas were -0.082 years and -0.053 years, respectively. The average annual changes in the regions of north, northeast, east, south central, southwest and northwest were -0.064, -0.099, -0.091, -0.080, -0.096 and -0.041 years in the period of 2010 to 2014 and 0.001, -0.040, -0.002, -0.005, -0.043 and -0.081 years in the period of 2014 to 2019.
ConclusionThe age of menarche among Chinese Han girls aged 9 to 18 years shows an advanced trend from 2010 to 2019, and the trends in urban and rural areas and different regions have different characteristics.
Key words:
Menarche; Puberty; Sexual development; Trends
Contributor Information
Ma Ning
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Shi Di
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Cai Shan
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Dang Jiajia
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Zhong Panliang
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Liu Yunfei
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Li Jing
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Dong Yanhui
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Hu Peijin
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Dong Bin
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Chen Tianjiao
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Song Yi
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Ma Jun
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health/School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
