The self-rating status of girl in pubertal Tanner stage and its correlation with relative pubertal timing

Objective: To investigate the self-rating status of girls in pubertal Tanner stage from grade 4-6 in primary schools and grade 1-3 in junior high schools,and its correlation with relative pubertal timing.Methods: A total of 1 113 girls from grade 4 to grade 9 of five schools in Bengbu city were sampled using stratified random cluster sampling,and investigated using the pubertal Tanner stage assessment and relative pubertal timing questionnaire.Results: Among the each indicator of pubertal Tanner stage,the median ages of breast Tanner Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ stage were 9.71,12.06 and 15.03 years old,respectively,and the median ages of pubic hair Tanner Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ stage were 10.99,12.39 and 14.98 years old,respectively.The median age of menarche was 11.71 years old.There was a significantly positive correlation between each indicator of relative pubertal timing and pubertal Tanner stage assessment(including breast,pubic hair and menstruation)(P<0.01).Conclusions: The order of onset of puberty during Tanner's developmental stage is breast development,then pubic hair development,and finally menarche,and the self-rating of pubertal Tanner stage is consistent with relative pubertal timing.