The relationship between pubertal timing and under-nutrition in rural Pakistan

Authors

Susan C. Campisi, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Khadija N. Humayun, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Yaqub Wasan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Sajid Bashir Soofi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Muhammad Islam, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Amjad Hussain, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Agha Shakeel, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Ashley Vandermorris, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Olle Söder, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Review Article

Department

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual development in females and males are routinely measured according to the Tanner Stages. Sparse data exist on the timing of pubertal milestones in Pakistan. To fill this gap, the age of attainment of pubertal milestones and their relationship with nutritional status was explored among children and adolescents living in the rural district of Matiari, Pakistan.
Methods: Anthropometry, nutrition biomarkers and Tanner Stage were assessed among girls aged 9.0-14.9 years (n = 723) and boys aged 10.0-15.9 years (n = 662) who were free from known disease in the rural District of Matiari, Pakistan. Median age was calculated for all Tanner Stages and menarche. Multivariable linear regressions were undertaken to determine covariates associated with the timing (age) of pubertal milestones.
Results: Among participants living in this rural community, the median age of puberty onset for girls was 11.9 years (95%CI:10.9; 12.5) and boys was 12.3 years (95%CI:11.5; 12.9). Age at first menarche was 12.9 years (95%CI:12.1; 13.3). Undernutrition was widespread among adolescents in this community. Thirty-seven percent of females and 27.0% of males were stunted while 20.5% of females and 31.3% of males were thin. Only 8% (n = 58) of females and 12% (n = 78) of males were free from any nutrient deficiency with most adolescents having two or three nutrient deficiencies.
Conclusions: Undernutrition (stunting or thinness) was associated with relatively older ages for early puberty stages but not puberty completion. This may decrease the duration of the pubertal growth spurt and curtail potential catch-up growth that may occur during puberty. Efforts to decrease nutrient deficiencies, stunting and thinness beyond childhood should be made in rural Pakistan.

Comments

Issue no. are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Journal of Adolescence

Recommended Citation

Campisi, S. C., Humayun, K. N., Wasan, Y., Soofi, S. B., Islam, M., Hussain, A., Shakeel, A., Vandermorris, A., Söder, O., Bhutta, Z. A. (2021). The relationship between pubertal timing and under-nutrition in rural Pakistan. Journal of Adolescence, 88, 58-66.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_wc/168