Experts concerned as girls grow breasts from 7-8 years
MBABANE – Experts around the world are worried about the ‘puberty boom’, whereby young girls are reaching puberty at a much younger age as early as six years old.
According to an article carried out by the New York Times, medical experts have noted that girls as young as six or seven were developing breasts. A United States Doctor, Marcia Herman-Giddens observed this during a research that spans over a decade.
It was also reported that for unclear reasons, doctors across the world have reported a rise in early puberty cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, for nearly two years between the end of 2019 and 2022, countries around the world had imposed restrictions on movements to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
The New York Times Reported that, while serving at the Duke University Medical Centre in that country, it noted majority of girls who had been abused had started developing breasts at a very young age. It was also observed that girls who had developed breasts at a younger age were more likely to be abused by sexual predators.
Revealed
The professor published a study after observing more than 17 000 girls who underwent physical examinations at various paediatricians’ offices. She had compiled data stretching a period of 10 years, which revealed that on average, girls in the mid 1990s had started to develop breasts - typically the first sign of puberty - around age 10, more than a year earlier than previously recorded. However, this figure dropped each year, with some reaching the age of puberty at the age of six.
Further, the New York Times reported that though it was difficult to tease apart the cause and effect, but noted that earlier puberty may have harmful effects, especially for girls though even some boys also exhibited early puberty.
“Girls who go through puberty early are at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other psychological problems, compared with peers who hit puberty later. Girls who get their periods earlier may also be at a higher risk of developing breast or uterine cancer in adulthood,” the publication reported.
Obesity was also noted as playing a role while researchers are also said to be investigating other potential influences, including chemicals found in certain plastics and stress. It was further noted that obesity had been linked to earlier menstruation in girls since the 1970s.
Khulisa Umntfwana, a local non-governmental organisation focussed on educating adolescents on issues health, also said they had noted that girls tended to reach puberty at a very young age even in the kingdom, adding that this was not just unique to western countries.
PubeRty
Bheki Shabangu, a representative of Khulisa Umntfwana, said his organisation dealt with many children who had reached puberty at a much younger age and that this was a concern. “Bantfwana banyalo boramututu,” he said, informally meaning that children theses grew up very fast, making a comparison between broiler chickens and free range ones. He said the difference between broiler chickens and free range chickens was the food they ate. Shabangu said it was the same case with human beings, and that girls could be affected by their diet such that this could lead to early puberty.
Shabangu said the organisation would use the Incwala period to teach, especially boys not to indulge in sex with young girls just because they appear to have reached puberty.
Meanwhile, Zandile Masangane, who is the focal person for adolescent sexual reproduction in the Ministry of Health, was also asked the same question, she said she was not aware about it. However, she referred questions to Khulisa Umntfwana.