ANTHROPOMETRY, BODY COMPOSITION AND REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN FROM KADUNA AND RIVERS STATES, NIGERIA
ANTHROPOMETRY, BODY COMPOSITION AND REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN FROM KADUNA AND RIVERS STATES, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-11
Authors
VICTOR, PROGRESS DAKURO
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Abstract
The relationship between anthropometry, body composition and reproductive
characteristics in women has been a subject of interest currently for biological
anthropologists. The study investigates the relationship between anthropometry,
body composition and menstrual characteristics of women from Kaduna and Rivers
State of Nigeria. Participants were non pregnant women randomly selected from four
(4) tertiary schools: Kaduna (n=387) and Rivers (n=401). Data was analysed using
Sigma Stat version. Data obtained showed that limb circumferences of Kaduna females
are significantly higher than Rivers females (p<0.05) except for the thigh
circumference. While, weight, height, iliac and tricep skinfold of Rivers state women
was significantly higher than Kaduna females (p<0.05). Muscle mass, percentage body
fat, basal metabolic rate and metabolic age of Rivers women was significantly higher
than that of their Kaduna counterparts at a significant level of p< 0.05. This study
showed the incidence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity as (38)
9.8%, (249) 64.3%, (78) 20.2%, and (22) 5.7% respectively for women from Kaduna;
(40) 10%, (253) 63.1%, (80) 20% and (28) 7.0% respectively for women from Rivers.
Results also showed that age had a significant association with BMI (River: χ2=38.585,
p=0.000; Kaduna: χ2=19.323, p=0.023). This study also demonstrates that the frequency
of underweight and normal weight women from Rivers and Kaduna decreases beyond
20 to 23 years, while obesity was maximum within 24-26 years for both states,
overweight was maximum within 23-26 years. Waist circumference (WC) showed the
strongest significant (p < 0.05) partial correlation with BMI and PBF (0.83 and 0.83,
respectively). Hip circumference (HC) was also found to be significantly correlated
with BMI (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and PBF (r = 0.86; p < 0.001). This study showed that
body weight, BMI, biceps and iliac skinfold correlated positive with all body
composition parameters except for total body water and physique rating which showed
negative correlation. The study showed that the mean age at menarche was higher in
Rivers women than Kaduna women, but no significant difference. The minimum and
maximum menarcheal age for this study was ten (10) and nineteen (19) years
respectively. Results showed that, 311 (80.4%) of Kaduna females and 288 (71.8%) of
Rivers females experienced regular menstrual cycle; 245 (63.3%) of Kaduna females
and 324 (80.8%) of Rivers females experienced a menstrual flow duration of four to six
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days. Study participants experienced at least one PMS (Kaduna: 387; 100%; Rivers:
366; 91.3%) and SDM (Kaduna: 367; 95.1%; Rivers 397; 99%); comparison of PMS
and SDM between subjects from the two states showed significant difference (χ2=
35.348, p=0.000 and χ2= 10.637 and p=0.001, respectively). This study showed the
incidence of minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression as 257 (66.4 %), 76 (19.6
%), 39 (10.1 %), 15 (3.9 %) respectively for women from Kaduna; 270 (67.3 %), 86
(21.4 %), 35 (8.7 %), 10 (2.5 %) respectively. Generally, Rivers women presented
higher anthropometric variables and body composition but a lower arm, forearm, and
calf circumference than their counterparts from Kaduna state. In Kaduna women,
weight can be used to predict all body composition parameters except bone mass, BMI
can be used to predict all body composition parameters except bone mass and physique
rating, sum of skinfold can also be used to predict body composition parameters except
for bone mass, muscle mass and Basal metabolic rate (BMR). In Rivers women, weight
can be used to predict body composition parameters, BMI can also be used to predict
body composition parameters except for total body water, sum of skinfold can also be
used to predict body composition parameters except for bone mass. In women from
Kaduna, there was significant association between calf, chest and waist circumference
with DS. Percentage body fat also showed association with DS. In Rivers women, there
was no significant association between anthropometric parameters and body
composition parameters with DS.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN ANATOMY
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ANATOMY
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
ANTHROPOMETRY,, BODY COMPOSITION,, REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS,, WOMEN,, KADUNA,, RIVERS STATES,, NIGERIA