engleski

The influence of socioeconomic status on menarche and body measures in urban girls from Croatia

Numerous studies reported a strong positive correlation between weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES) in the adults from low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to verify this association in adolescent girls from Zagreb, Croatia, a country recovering from war. The sample comprised of 399 randomly selected girls (15-19 yrs) from vocational and high schools. Study protocol consisted of an interview regarding success at school, out-of-school recreation and other activities, age at menarche, SES and short anthropometry. Girls from vocational schools are shorter (p<0.001), have higher mean BMI (p=0.040) and lower age at menarche (p<0.001). High school girls have better school performance (p<0.001) and more frequently practice some out-of-school physical or other recreational activity (p<0.001). Both parents are better educated when comparing high school with vocational school girls (both p<0.001) and more often live together/married (p=0.035). We found no correlation of later menarche or higher BMI with worse SES background in total sample regardless of school type. Our results indicate a need for education of vocational school girls and their parents to prevent further increase in BMI. Further research will focus on elucidating factors contributing to later menarcheal age in high school girls.

body mass index; age at menarche; socioeconomic status; adolescence; Croatia

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