Background: The mean age at menarche remains poorly documented in Africa.Aim: To document levels, trends, and determinants of mean age at menarche in selected African populations.Subjects and methods: The World Fertility Surveys recorded the age at menarche in 12 African countries. These surveys were conducted from 1977 to 1983 and were based on large representative samples of national populations. Demographic and Health Surveys provided trends in adult height for the same cohorts.Results: The mean age at menarche was higher in sub-Saharan Africa (14.5 years) than in North-Africa (13.5 years). Age at menarche was declining significantly in all sub-Saharan African countries, but only in one North-African country. The speed of decline in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 0.47 years for a 30-year period, comparable to the speed of decline in Europe. Sub-Saharan African countries with higher increase in female adult height also had larger declines in mean age at menarche. In multivariate analysis, trends in age at menarche were correlated with trends in adult height and child survival.Conclusion: In sub-Saharan Africa, age at menarche was undergoing a transition similar to that of European countries in the nineteenth century and was associated with improving health of young women. North-African countries were more advanced.

中文翻译：

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某些非洲国家（1950-1980年）的初潮年龄和成年身高趋势。

背景：在非洲，初潮的平均年龄仍然记录不清目的：记录特定非洲人口初潮的平均年龄的水平，趋势和决定因素研究对象和方法：《世界生育率调查》记录了12个非洲国家的初潮年龄。这些调查是在1977年至1983年进行的，并基于大量具有代表性的国民样本。人口统计和健康调查提供了相同队列的成年人身高的趋势。结果：撒哈拉以南非洲的平均初潮年龄（14.5岁）高于北非的平均年龄（13.5岁）。在所有撒哈拉以南非洲国家，初潮年龄明显下降，但仅在一个北非国家。撒哈拉以南非洲地区30年来的平均下降速度为0.47年，与欧洲的下降速度相当。撒哈拉以南非洲女性成年身高增加较多的国家，月经初潮的平均年龄下降幅度也更大。在多变量分析中，初潮年龄的趋势与成人身高和儿童存活率的趋势相关。结论：在撒哈拉以南非洲，初潮年龄正在经历类似于十九世纪欧洲国家的转型，并且与改善年龄有关。年轻妇女的健康。北部非洲国家比较先进。初潮的年龄正经历着与十九世纪欧洲国家类似的转变，并且与改善年轻妇女的健康状况有关。北部非洲国家比较先进。与19世纪欧洲国家一样，初潮的年龄正经历着过渡，这与改善年轻妇女的健康状况有关。北部非洲国家比较先进。