title: Inbreeding effects on fetal growth in Beirut, Lebanon.
abstract: Effects of consanguineous marriages on offspring's gestational age and anthropometrics at birth were investigated in Beirut through a hospital-based survey of 1,252 newborns. Twenty-five percent of all newborns were inbred, and the mean inbreeding coefficient was 1.25%. Neither prematurity rate nor weight, length, head circumference, and chest circumference (considered individually, or as a whole) showed a significant pattern by type of parental consanguinity. Failure to demonstrate significant inbreeding effects is reported in several other studies and generally interpreted as the long-term result of continued inbreeding practices.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khlat
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D003241:Consanguinity; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy