This study compares the growth and maturity status of Sereer girls (Senegal) temporarily migrating to an urban setting during the dry season to work as maids in the capital city, Dakar, with girls remaining in rural communities. A total of 343 girls, aged 12.5-14.5 were surveyed: 222 lived year-round in several villages (sedentes) and 121 girls worked in Dakar for 8 months of the year (migrants). All girls were born and reared under the same conditions and in the same rural communities in Senegal. Growth and nutritional status were assessed with anthropometry, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Sexual maturation was assessed by stage of breast development and occurrence of menarche. A questionnaire on housing conditions, food consumption patterns, nature of work, health status, and reasons for leaving the villages was administered to 57 urban girls. Overall, the girls were small relative to NCHS/WHO reference values: 30-40% were lower than -2 z-scores of age-specific medians. They also had less subcutaneous fat. Only nine girls had attained menarche and 30% were prepubertal in breast development. The migrants had a significantly higher body mass and BMI and thicker skinfolds than sedentes, but there was no difference in stature. The migrants were also more sexually mature than the sedentes. Comparison of anthropometric status 2 years before migration, in 1995, showed no differences between migrant and sedentes girls. Within migrant girls, those with two or more stays in Dakar were taller and heavier than newcomers. These results suggest that seasonal movement to the city results in improved nutritional status, as reflected in larger body mass and increased fatness. These factors appear to be associated with better living conditions in the city. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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