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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on September 30, 2005
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dei271
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.
Received April 28, 2005
Revised July 19, 2005
Accepted July 25, 2005

Article

Age at menarche and its influencing factors in North Korean female refugees

Seung-Yup Ku 1, Jong Won Kang 2, Heon Kim 2, Yong Dae Kim 2, Byung Chul Jee 3, Chang Suk Suh 1, Young Min Choi 1, Jung Gu Kim 3, Shin Yong Moon 1, and Seok Hyun Kim 1*

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea; Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Centre, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Seok Hyun Kim, E-mail: seokhyun{at}plaza.snu.ac.kr


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Age at menarche is known to be regulated by genetic and environmental factors. To date, no menarcheal data are available on North Korean women. In this cross-sectional survey, we investigated age at menarche and its possible influencing factors in North Korean refugees. METHODS: Four hundred and eleven North Korean refugees were surveyed at a North Korean female refugee camp using a structured questionnaire within 3 months of immigration. Menarcheal age was requested and the data obtained were analysed with respect to age at interview, region of residence in North Korea, education, food preference and sleep duration. RESULTS: Mean age at menarche was 16.0 ± 2.1 years (mean ± SD). Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the menarcheal age among the different food preference groups (P = 0.0236). Sleep duration was found to be significantly and negatively correlated with age at menarche (R = -0.23, P < 0.0001). However, generalized linear model (GLM) analysis revealed that region of residence at menarche (P = 0.0209) and sleep duration (P = 0.0007) were significant determinants. Food preference played a role as an effect modifier in the relationship between the region of residence at menarche and age at menarche. CONCLUSION: Age at menarche seemed to be delayed in North Korean refugees. GLM analysis showed that sleep duration and region of residence at menarche were significant influencing factors of age at menarche in this study population.

Keywords: age at menarche/influencing factors/North Korean refugees.
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