Background: Menstrual irregularities are common in adolescent girls in the first years after menarche, having a wide range of etiologies, may lead to important problems as well as infertility. Many factors are discussed as contributing causes; while anthropometric indices particularly body mass index and waist circumference reflecting the whole health status, are not well studied and reports are controversial.
Objectives: This study to determine the relationship between menstrual irregularities with anthropometric variables (BMI and waist circumference) among adolescent secondary school girls in Mwanza region.
Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study which was conducted on December 2020. Data was obtained by systematic sampling, a total of 245 students was included; whereby structured questionnaires on demographic irregularities were provided to participants who met inclusion criteria.
Results: The study shown that the prevalence of menstrual irregularities is as high as 13.9%, this can be explained by very low BMI or high BMI than normal and larger waist circumference, as the study has shown that there is association between those anthropometric measurements and menstrual irregularities. On the other hand the students who had normal anthropometric measurements, most of them have proven to have normal regular menstrual cycle. Otherwise, no association was found between heights with menstrual cycle disturbance.
Wurzburg Road 35, BMC Premises, Post Code: 33102: P. O. Box 1464, Mwanza – Tanzania: Phone: +255 28 298 3384: Fax: +255 28 298 3386: Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz : www.bugando.ac.tz
--Obstetrics and Gynecology --Biochemistry and Molecular Biology