[Anthropometric patterns in non-Caucasian full-term neonates of African, Moroccan and South American origin born in Catalonia (Spain)].
BACKGROUND
The rise in immigration to Spain in recent decades has increased the number of non-Caucasian newborns in our environment. The aims of this study were to establish normal intrauterine development values for weight, length and head circumference in a population of non-Caucasian full-term newborns (FTN).


METHODS
We studied 2,444 healthy full-term singleton newborns (37-42 weeks' gestational age; 1,230 boys, 1,214 girls) with the following ethnic origins: black (n =1,257; 622 boys, 635 girls), Moroccan (n =520; 297 boys, 223 girls) and South-American (n =667; 356 boys, 311 girls). Mean values and standard deviations were estimated for each week of gestation for sex and race and these values were compared with those of a Spanish population of the same gestational age and sex.


RESULTS
Anthropometric values in black FTN were similar to those of the Catalan population. By contrast, these values were higher in Moroccans and South-American FTN than in the native population. Statistically-significant differences were observed in all the parameters evaluated from the 38th week of gestation in full-term Moroccan newborns compared with the reference population. Statistically significant differences were observed in full-term South-American newborns from the 38th week of gestation in girls and from the 40th week in boys. The presence of sexual dimorphism in the anthropometric patterns evaluated was not constant at all the gestational ages evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Anthropometric patterns of the Spanish Caucasian FTN population are not extrapolable to FTN of other ethnicities.
Copil
A
A
Servicio de Endocrinología Pediátrica, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, España.
Yeste
D
D
Teixidó
R
R
Maciá
J
J
Santana
S
S
Almar
J
J
Tokashiki
N
N
Abellán
C
C
Carrascosa
A
A
D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000886:Anthropometry; D049628:Body Size / Q000208:ethnology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D013020:South America / Q000208:ethnology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology