Resumen

TORRES, MF et al. Análisis comparativo del crecimiento y la maduración sexual entre niñas de Santa Rosa (La Pampa) y La Plata (Buenos Aires), Argentina. ALAN [online]. 2011, vol.61, n.1, pp.36-44. ISSN 0004-0622.

Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyze growth in relation to menarche in girls from two Argentinean urban populations. We performed a comparative-descriptive cross sectional study in 2474 schoolchildren between 8.0 and 16.9 years old from Santa Rosa (SR) and La Plata (LP) cities. We registered the presence of menarche and anthropometrics variables of body weight, total and sitting heights, arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body mass index, subscapular / triceps index and muscle and fat arm areas were calculated. The study group was divided into 4 groups according to the city and menarche. The socio-environmental structured survey indicated significant differences between cities with these variables: tenure status, building materials and services, health care coverage, cash assistance, educational level and parents’ occupation, therefore establishing a higher welfare in youngsters of SR. Menarche at a mean age of 12.7 years old was more prevalent in SR (40.6%) than in LP (33.7%) (c2=12.9; p

Palabras clave : Growth; sexual maturation; menarche; body composition; Argentina.