Temporal trends of main reproductive characteristics in ten urban and rural regions of China: the China Kadoorie biobank study of 300 000 women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chinese women's reproductive patterns have changed significantly over the past several decades. However, relatively little is known about the pace and characteristics of these changes either overall or by region and socioeconomic status.

Methods

We examined the cross-sectional data from the China Kadoorie Biobank cohort study that recruited 300 000 women born between 1930 and 1974 (mean age: 51 years) from 10 socially diverse urban and rural regions of China. Temporal trends in several self-reported reproductive characteristics, and effect modification of these trends by area and education (as a surrogate for socioeconomic status), were examined.

Results

The overall mean age at menarche was 15.4 (standard deviation 1.9) years, but decreased steadily over th

SUBMITTER: Lewington S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4121552 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature