ISSN 2736-1594
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2326-7234 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the age at menarche and menstrual cycle pattern among schoolgirls in Kassala, Sudan
Abdel Aziem A. Ali1, Duria A. Rayis2, Mona Mamoun1 and Ishag Adam2*
1Faculty of Medicine, Kassala University, Sudan.
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Accepted 18 December, 2018
Abstract
A cross-sectional school survey was carried out during January to February 2010 in 8 schools to investigate the age at menarche, menstrual cycle pattern among school girls in Kassala, eastern Sudan. Structured questionnaires were used to gather the socio-demographic data, age at menarche, regularity of the menstrual cycle and associated symptoms. Out of 900 schoolgirls investigated their age ranges between 9 to 19 with mean ± SD of 14.0 ± 4.7 years. Only 73% experienced menarche by the time of interview. The mean age ± SD of 13.07 ± 1.0 years, which was 0.9 year younger in the urban girls. The majority of girls (76.4%) experienced delayed menarche. The period was regular in 68.5% of these girls with the cycle length ranges between 21 to 35 days the mean ± SD duration of blood flow was 4 ± 1.2 days. The overall prevalence of dysmenorhea was 83.1 and 59.8% of the subject experienced premenstrual symptoms. In conclusion the menarcheal age was delayed in our study, it varies with residence, dysmenorrhea was a common health problem among the school girls.
Key words: Menarche, menstrual cycle, school girls, Sudan.