Menarche: A Missing Indicator in Population Health from Low-Income Countries
Open accessAbstract
In this article, Sommer makes an important point that the age of menarche is overlooked as a key indicator in research and practice in low-income countries.As the author indicates, the absence of systematic national data collection is very much a missed occasion for trend analysis of the population, as well as a better appreciation of the inequities within the country.These data would also provide government officials, health-care providers, and researchers with valuable information on nutritional status and sexual and reproductive health.
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Given declining age of puberty and menarche and decreasing fertility rates in many parts of the world, the number of years during which a girl or woman experiences monthly menstrual bleeding has expanded along with the number of episodes.
“Given the declining age of puberty (and menarche) and decreasing fertility rates in many parts of the world,8–10 the number of years during which a girl or woman will experience monthly menstrual bleeding has expanded along with the number of episodes.”
From Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries (2017) · cites this paper as [10]
In some cultures, menarche signifies readiness for sexual activity and marriage, with particular implications for sexual and reproductive health as well as educational attainment.
“In some cultures, menarche signifies readiness for sexual activity and marriage, with particular implications for sexual and reproductive health as well as educational attainment [18–20].”
From A qualitative exploration of menstruation-related restrictive practices in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (2018) · cites this paper as [20]
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References 17 · Cited by 53
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [1]Windle M, Grunbaum JA, Elliott M, Tortolero SR, Berry S, Gilliland J, et al. Healthy passages. A multilevel, multi-method longitudinal study of adolescent health. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27:164–72. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.04.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
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- Authors
- Sommer, M.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sommer, Marni
- ORCID
- Sommer, Marni
- Venue
- Public Health Reports®
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-09
- Volume
- 128
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 399-401
- ISSN
- 0033-3549 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2877
- PMC
- PMC3743290
- OpenAlex
- W2283426378
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 1.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Public Health Reports (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Keywords
- age at menarche, population health indicators, low-income countries, national data collection, health disparities, nutritional status, sexual and reproductive health, trend analysis
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Data Collection, Developing Countries, Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, Menarche, Nutritional Status, Public Health, Socioeconomic Factors, Global Health
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