I am not advocating child marriages like they happen even today in rajasthan and some other remote areas of India. But I think we have some lessons to learn from Hispanic women
There is a big disconnect between evolutionary biology and social context as far as fertility is concerned.
There was a hue and cry over teenage pregnancies and a drive to root out this " evil"
but somehow Hispanic women are an exception.
If one looks at the age of menarche there is a downward trend, there are many explanations given and also controversy ( see the exchange of letters in NEJM given at the end ).
But allover the world specially in the two most populous countries namely China and India the number of women remaining unmarried and also childless is growing.
One of the main reasons is late marriage and late age first birth.
May be Just may be we have some lessons to learn from the Hispanic women
"There has been a lot of progress in reducing the number of teen pregnancies over the last few decades. Rates have declined across all ethnic groups. But according to new figures from the Centers for Disease Control, the teen birthrate among Hispanics is stubbornly high."
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/14/302906835/why-do-more-latina-teens-get-pregnant
Is the age at menarche really falling ?
■ Age of Menarche Chumlea WC, Schubert CM, Roche AF, et. al. Age at menarche and racial comparisons in US girls. Pediatrics 2003; 111(1): 110-113. While there is no consensus definition of a normal age range at menarche, this study indicates that the age of menarche occurs between 11.11 and 13.75 years of age for 80% of U.S. girls. Non-Hispanic black girls reach menarche slightly earlier at 10.52 years. The median age at menarche for all U.S. girls is 12.43 years. Only 10% of all girls begin menses before 11 years, or 10 years for non-Hispanic black girls, and 90% of all girls will be menstruating by 13 years. This data was collected from questionnaires to girls (12 to 20 years) and parents or guardians of girls (8 to 11 years). Data was collected from 2,510 girls enrolled in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results were compared to data collected by the National Health Examination Survey 30 years ago. This data suggests that the median age at menarche for all U.S. girls had not changed significantly in 30 years Teen pregnancy and birth rates are at historic lows. There has also been impressive progress in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups. Even so, the success has been uneven. Despite a steady decrease in the teen pregnancy and birth rates among Latina teens over the last decade, their rates remain much higher than rates for teens overall. It is also the case that the Latino population is the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States—by 2030, it is estimated that more than one-quarter of all teens will be Latino.1 Key Facts • The birth rate was 38.0 births per 1,000 Latina teens age 15-19 in 2014 (the most recent data available).2 • The teen pregnancy rate, which factors in both those pregnancies that ended in a birth and those that did not, was 73.5 per 1,000 Latina teens age 15-19 in 2011 (the most recent pregnancy data available).3 • Roughly 1 in 3 Latina teens got pregnant at least once before age 20—one and a half times the national average.4 • Ongoing declines in both the pregnancy and birth rates for Latina teens suggest a more optimistic outlook. Both rates have fallen nearly continuously since 1
The Details: Pregnancy Data Overall The pregnancy rate for all teens declined 55% between 1990 (the peak year for teen pregnancy) and 2011.3 The pregnancy rate among Latina teens decreased 56% over this period (from 165.6 in 1991 to 73.5 pregnancies per 1,000 Latina teens in 2011), and fell by 11% just since 2010. The Latina teen pregnancy rate is somewhat lower than the rate among non-Hispanic black teen girls (73.5 compared to 92.6), and is more than double the rate for non-Hispanic white teen girls (35.3).3 By Age Group In 2009 (the most recent data available by race/ethnicity and age), the majority of pregnancies to Latina teens occurred among 18-19 year-olds, and the pregnancy rate among Latina teens age 18-19 was nearly triple that among girls age 15-17
3,5 • The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens under age 15 was 1.9 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 14% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 57% since 1990. There were approximately 4,000 pregnancies to Latina teens under age 15 in 2009. • The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens age 15-17 was 61.1 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 12% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 46% since 1990. There were approximately 79,000 pregnancies to Latina teens age 15-17 in 2009.
• The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens age 18-19 was 158.9 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 10% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 34% since 1990. There were approximately 136,000 pregnancies to Latina teens age 18-19 in 2009. By State • Pregnancy rates for Latina teens vary by state. In 2011 (the most recent data available by state), these rates ranged from a low of 19 per 1,000 in Vermont to a high of 95 per 1,000 in Georgia.6 • State specific pregnancy rates by race/ethnicity are available in the Data section of The National Campaign website at http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/data/. The Details: Birth Data Overall The birth rate among all teens age 15-19 declined 61% between 1991 and 2014.2 The birth rate among Latina teens decreased 64% during this same period (from 104.6 to 38.0 births per 1,000 Latina teens respectively), and fell by 9% in the last year alone. Additional breakouts by age, parity, marital status, and state are available through 2012 or 2014, as described below. Latina teens currently have the highest birth rate among all teens—more than one and a half times higher than the overall teen birth rate.2 By Age Group In 2014, older teens (age 18-19) accounted for the majority of births to Latina teens, similar to teens overall. In fact, among Latina teens, 69% of births to girls age 15-19 were to older teens
• The birth rate for Latina teens age 10-14 was 0.4 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 20% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 83% since 1991. There were 1,037 births to Latinas younger than age 15 in 2014. • The birth rate for Latinas age 15-17 was 19.3 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 12% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 72% since 1991. There were 26,295 births to Latinas age 15-17 in 2014. • The birth rate for Latinas age 18-19 was 66.1 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 7% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 57% since 1991. There were 59,675 births to Latinas age 18-19 in 2014. By Parity • Most births to Latina teens are first births. In 2014, 80% of births to Latina teens age 15-19 were first births—17% were second births and the remainder were births to Latinas who had two or more previous births.2 • Among all Latina teen mothers, 20% will have at least one additional birth by the time they reach age 20.7 By State • In 2012, Latina teen birth rates varied from a low of 28.2 per 1,000 Latina teens in Florida to a high of 67.4 per 1,000 in Oklahoma.2 • State specific birth rates by race/ethnicity are available in the Data section of The National Campaign website at http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/data/.
There is a big disconnect between evolutionary biology and social context as far as fertility is concerned.
There was a hue and cry over teenage pregnancies and a drive to root out this " evil"
but somehow Hispanic women are an exception.
If one looks at the age of menarche there is a downward trend, there are many explanations given and also controversy ( see the exchange of letters in NEJM given at the end ).
But allover the world specially in the two most populous countries namely China and India the number of women remaining unmarried and also childless is growing.
One of the main reasons is late marriage and late age first birth.
May be Just may be we have some lessons to learn from the Hispanic women
"There has been a lot of progress in reducing the number of teen pregnancies over the last few decades. Rates have declined across all ethnic groups. But according to new figures from the Centers for Disease Control, the teen birthrate among Hispanics is stubbornly high."
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/14/302906835/why-do-more-latina-teens-get-pregnant
Is the age at menarche really falling ?
■ Age of Menarche Chumlea WC, Schubert CM, Roche AF, et. al. Age at menarche and racial comparisons in US girls. Pediatrics 2003; 111(1): 110-113. While there is no consensus definition of a normal age range at menarche, this study indicates that the age of menarche occurs between 11.11 and 13.75 years of age for 80% of U.S. girls. Non-Hispanic black girls reach menarche slightly earlier at 10.52 years. The median age at menarche for all U.S. girls is 12.43 years. Only 10% of all girls begin menses before 11 years, or 10 years for non-Hispanic black girls, and 90% of all girls will be menstruating by 13 years. This data was collected from questionnaires to girls (12 to 20 years) and parents or guardians of girls (8 to 11 years). Data was collected from 2,510 girls enrolled in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results were compared to data collected by the National Health Examination Survey 30 years ago. This data suggests that the median age at menarche for all U.S. girls had not changed significantly in 30 years Teen pregnancy and birth rates are at historic lows. There has also been impressive progress in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups. Even so, the success has been uneven. Despite a steady decrease in the teen pregnancy and birth rates among Latina teens over the last decade, their rates remain much higher than rates for teens overall. It is also the case that the Latino population is the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States—by 2030, it is estimated that more than one-quarter of all teens will be Latino.1 Key Facts • The birth rate was 38.0 births per 1,000 Latina teens age 15-19 in 2014 (the most recent data available).2 • The teen pregnancy rate, which factors in both those pregnancies that ended in a birth and those that did not, was 73.5 per 1,000 Latina teens age 15-19 in 2011 (the most recent pregnancy data available).3 • Roughly 1 in 3 Latina teens got pregnant at least once before age 20—one and a half times the national average.4 • Ongoing declines in both the pregnancy and birth rates for Latina teens suggest a more optimistic outlook. Both rates have fallen nearly continuously since 1
The Details: Pregnancy Data Overall The pregnancy rate for all teens declined 55% between 1990 (the peak year for teen pregnancy) and 2011.3 The pregnancy rate among Latina teens decreased 56% over this period (from 165.6 in 1991 to 73.5 pregnancies per 1,000 Latina teens in 2011), and fell by 11% just since 2010. The Latina teen pregnancy rate is somewhat lower than the rate among non-Hispanic black teen girls (73.5 compared to 92.6), and is more than double the rate for non-Hispanic white teen girls (35.3).3 By Age Group In 2009 (the most recent data available by race/ethnicity and age), the majority of pregnancies to Latina teens occurred among 18-19 year-olds, and the pregnancy rate among Latina teens age 18-19 was nearly triple that among girls age 15-17
3,5 • The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens under age 15 was 1.9 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 14% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 57% since 1990. There were approximately 4,000 pregnancies to Latina teens under age 15 in 2009. • The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens age 15-17 was 61.1 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 12% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 46% since 1990. There were approximately 79,000 pregnancies to Latina teens age 15-17 in 2009.
• The teen pregnancy rate for Latina teens age 18-19 was 158.9 per 1,000 in 2009. There was a 10% decrease in the rate between 2008 and 2009, and there has been an overall decrease of 34% since 1990. There were approximately 136,000 pregnancies to Latina teens age 18-19 in 2009. By State • Pregnancy rates for Latina teens vary by state. In 2011 (the most recent data available by state), these rates ranged from a low of 19 per 1,000 in Vermont to a high of 95 per 1,000 in Georgia.6 • State specific pregnancy rates by race/ethnicity are available in the Data section of The National Campaign website at http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/data/. The Details: Birth Data Overall The birth rate among all teens age 15-19 declined 61% between 1991 and 2014.2 The birth rate among Latina teens decreased 64% during this same period (from 104.6 to 38.0 births per 1,000 Latina teens respectively), and fell by 9% in the last year alone. Additional breakouts by age, parity, marital status, and state are available through 2012 or 2014, as described below. Latina teens currently have the highest birth rate among all teens—more than one and a half times higher than the overall teen birth rate.2 By Age Group In 2014, older teens (age 18-19) accounted for the majority of births to Latina teens, similar to teens overall. In fact, among Latina teens, 69% of births to girls age 15-19 were to older teens
• The birth rate for Latina teens age 10-14 was 0.4 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 20% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 83% since 1991. There were 1,037 births to Latinas younger than age 15 in 2014. • The birth rate for Latinas age 15-17 was 19.3 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 12% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 72% since 1991. There were 26,295 births to Latinas age 15-17 in 2014. • The birth rate for Latinas age 18-19 was 66.1 per 1,000 in 2014. There was a decrease of 7% between 2013 and 2014, and an overall decrease of 57% since 1991. There were 59,675 births to Latinas age 18-19 in 2014. By Parity • Most births to Latina teens are first births. In 2014, 80% of births to Latina teens age 15-19 were first births—17% were second births and the remainder were births to Latinas who had two or more previous births.2 • Among all Latina teen mothers, 20% will have at least one additional birth by the time they reach age 20.7 By State • In 2012, Latina teen birth rates varied from a low of 28.2 per 1,000 Latina teens in Florida to a high of 67.4 per 1,000 in Oklahoma.2 • State specific birth rates by race/ethnicity are available in the Data section of The National Campaign website at http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/data/.
To the Editor: Last summer Science magazine published an article refuting the widely held idea that the age of menarche has been occurring earlier with each decade.' Now the Journal has come up with an article "confirming" the early-maturation view — that is, the change in age at which such maturity is said to occur.' How is the ordinary reader supposed to know what to believe? The article in Science claimed that the data commonly used, from studies in Norway, have been misinterpreted. The writers offered evidence that as far back as the Middle Ages menarche was occur-ring between the ages of 12 and 13. A home medical journal pub-lished in the United States in the 1830s gave the same age figures. And I recall that in the 1930s the maker of Kotex was running magazine ads headlined "Marjory May's Twelfth Birthday," which hinted at a mysterious happening in a girl's life near that time. Climate and maturity are generally believed to be linked. Girls whose ancestry lies in cold climates mature later than those whose ancestors came from warm countries. So how could it be valid, really, to use studies of Norwegian women to prove late maturity for all of the West 200 years ago? Furthermore, can we be sure that medical records of past eras are copious and precise enough to pinpoint monthly declines in the age of menarche? Gynecology is a relatively new medical specialty, after all, and it wasn't until the 19th century that doctors were even involved in treating pregnancy and childbirth.
FRANCES FRECH Kansas City, MO 64113 Population Renewal Office 1. Bullough VL. Age at menarche: a misunderstanding. Science. 1981; 213:365-6. 2. Wyshak G. Frisch RE. Evidence for a secular trend in age of menarche. N Engl J Med. 1982; 306:1033-5.
Brieger GH, ed. Theory and practice in American medicine. New York: Science History Publications, 1976:124-6. 6. Frisch RE. Influences on age of menarche. Lancet. 1973; 1:1007-8. 7. Raciborski MA. De la puberte et de !lige critique chez la femme. Paris. 1R44.4h
The above letter was referred to the authors of the article in question, who offer the following reply:
tion. In:
To the Editor: The long-term downward trend in age at menarche over the past century and a half is clear from the 218 reports on Europe that we analyzed and presented graphically in our article. The decline is estimated to be about 2.3 months per decade on the basis of a regression analysis that quantified the rate of change over the entire time period. This estimate is statistically significant —i.e., not likely to be due to chance (P<0 .001="" 1.2="" 12.0="" 12="" 13.0="" 13.2="" 13.5="" 14.4="" 14.75="" 1795="" 1802="" 1844="" 1870="" 18th="" 1930.="" 1930="" 1930s="" 1981="" 19th="" a.="" a="" about="" academy="" admirably="" adolescent="" advertisement.="" affecting="" age="" ages="" already="" also="" an="" and="" as="" asked="" asserting="" at="" average="" basis="" been="" begin="" being="" believe="" benjamin="" between="" by="" cease="" centuries.="" century="" children="" clark="" con-sidered="" conditions="" connected="" considered.2-="" decline="" declining="" delayed="" deviation="" direct="" do="" dr.="" during="" england="" environmental="" even="" example="" experiment="" explore="" factors="" fecundity="" female="" follows="" for="" france="" frech="" from="" germany="" girls="" graph="" great="" growth="" had="" half.="" has="" hastened="" have="" height="" his.="" historical="" historically="" how="" in="" included:="" incorrect="" increase="" interest="" investigators="" is="" it="" jefferson="" know="" knowledge="" kotex="" lacked="" laureate="" life="" like="" list="" long-term="" long="" m.="" marry="" mean="" medical="" medicine="" men-arche="" menarche.2="" menarche.63="" menarche="" menstruate="" meriwether="" middle="" missouri="" music="" not="" nutrition="" o:p="" occurred="" of="" on="" one="" or="" other="" our="" over="" paris="" past="" physical="" physicians="" poor="" presented="" president="" profes-sion="" psychological="" questions="" raciborski="" ranged="" reader="" recounted="" reported="" reproduction.="" results="" river.="" royal="" rush="" s="" scandinavia="" secular="" separately.="" showed="" significant="" similar="" solid="" spurt="" standard="" states="" statistically="" stress.="" subjects="" suckle="" sweet="" t="" taking="" talics="" test="" that="" the="" there="" therefore="" they="" thirds="" this="" to="" today.="" two="" undernu-trition="" undernutrition="" united="" unlikely="" very="" was="" we="" weight.="" were="" what="" when="" whether="" who="" with="" women="" would="" year="" years.="" years="">
Cambridge, MA 02138
GRACE WYSHAK, PH.D. ROSE E. FRISCH, PH.D. Harvard Center for Population Studies
1. Tanner JM. Growth at adolescence. 2d. ed. London: Blackwell, 1962:94-143. 2. Fluhmann CF. The management of menstrual disorders. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1976:61-8. 3. Backman G. Die beschleunigte Entwicklund der Jugend: verfriihte menarche verspatete menopause, verlingerte Lebensdauer. Acta Anat (Basel). 1948; 4:421-80. 4. Frisch RE. Population, food intake and fertility. Science. 1978; 199:22-30. 5. Will DW. The medical and surgical practice of the Lewis and Clark expedi-tion. In: Brieger GH, ed. Theory and practice in American medicine. New York: Science History Publications, 1976:124-6. 6. Frisch RE. Influences on age of menarche. Lancet. 1973; 1:1007-8. 7. Raciborski MA. De la pubend et de Fagg critique chez la femme. Paris. 1844:46.
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