A Research Study on Sociodemographic Determinants of Different Menarche in the Female Students in Southern Vietnam

Abstract

Thoai Dang Nguyen, Tram Thi Huyen Nguyen, Pol Van Nguyen, Nghiem Quan Le

Background: Menarche is a landmark in the life of a woman. There are very little data on possible factors influencing the age at menarche in Vietnamese populations. This study was designed to identify secular trends in the age at menarche and to investigate the possible factors that influence the age at menarche.
Methods: Data was collected from 1,200 female students using a targeted examination system with a direct interview technique. Our current research was conducted at Thu Duc General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from May 2018 to April 2019. Cross-sectional information was applied for a univariate survey, to complete the representation of factors and their characteristics on the list information; and for a bivariate examination, to discover the relationship between factors.
Results: Most of student (54.0%) had periods at an early age, 37.8% had periods at a typical age, and 8.2% had periods at the later age. The outcomes also exposed 10.3% of students had sporadic menstrual cycles, but a large proportion of respondents (70.3%) suffered from menstrual discomfort. The relationship between the age of menstruation and financial variables remained considered very important. Female students with a lower average age at menarche live in urban areas where family wages are high relative to those in the provincial territories and where family wage collection is central or low.
Conclusion: The majority of female students were getting early age at menarche, which associated with urban livings. This may cause several pressures on medical system due to risks of psychological problems and nutritional dysfunction.