Abstract

VAZQUEZ SANCHEZ, Vanessa; MARTINEZ FUENTES, Antonio Julián  and  DIAZ SANCHEZ, María Elena. Menarche and menstrual cycle of female boarders and day students in the City of Havana. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2005, vol.31, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

A longitudinal study was conducted using two personalized surveys administered to 200 female students at the beginning and at the end of the academic year 2002-2003. These students, aged 15-21 years, lived in the City of Havana (100 were boarders at School of Social Workers in Cojímar y 100 were day students from "Sierra Cojímar" Polytechnics. The objective of the present study was to compare mean age at menarche and the characteristics of the menstrual cycle between both groups. The results revealed that girls with early onset of menstruation predominated. Although there were no significant differences, the boarders showed higher mean age at menarche and the highest percentage of late onset of menstruation. In both groups, menses occurred at intervals of about 28 days and blood discharge lasted 3 to 5 days. The highest prevalence of changes and disorders in the menstrual pattern was found in the boarders. The most frequent menstrual impairments were menstrual disorders and amenorrhea

Keywords : menarche; menstrual cycle; amenorrhea; boarding school.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )