Puberty onset in rural and urban children
Abstract: Accelerated pubertal
onset has been reported in recent years. Environmental factors are assumed to
influence this condition.
Objective To assess differences in pubertal onset between children in
rural and urban areas, as well as to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and
socioeconomic status that affect pubertal onset.
Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2010 at junior
high schools in Mandailing Natal and Medan, North Sumatera. Data were collected
with purposive sampling of children aged 8 to 13 years. Sexual maturity was
assessed by Tanner stage and risk factors was determined by questionnaires. The
comparison between pubertal onset in rural and urban areas was assessed by
Mann-Whitney U test. The relationships between nutritional status,
socioeconomic status, sexual maturity, and pubertal onset were assessed by
Spearman’s correlation.
Results Eighty-four subjects (38 boys and 46 girls) from a rural area and
87 subjects (40 boys and 47 girls) from an urban area participated in this
study. There were significant differences in mean pubertal age of onset between
subjects living in rural vs. urban areas, for both girls and boys [girls: 10.2
vs. 9.5 years, respectively (P=0.008); boys: 11.7 vs. 10.1 years, respectively,
(P=0.001)]. We found weak negative correlations between BMI and pubertal onset
in boys (r=-0.246; P=0.03) and in girls (r=-0.548; P=0.001). We also found weak
negative correlations between socioeconomic status and pubertal onset in boys (r=-0.406; P=0.0001)
and in girls (r=-0.575; P=0.001).
Conclusion Pubertal onset is faster in girls and boys who lived in an
urban area. There are negative
correlations between BMI and socioeconomic status with pubertal onset.
Keywords: pubertal onset;
children; urban; rural
Author: Hariadi Edi Saputra,
Hakimi Hakimi, Melda Deliana, Siska Mayasari Lubis, Karina Sugih Arto
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg170067
