NORMATIVE STANDARDS AND COMPARISON OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA OF WHITE AND BLACK NEWBORN INFANTS

Abstract

We report normative standards for length, weight, 17 craniofacial dimensions, 5 hand and foot measurements, 7 circumferences, 9 skinfold thicknesses, penile length, and testicular volume in black and white newborns. No significant differences in these variables were found between black males and females. White males had greatest craniofacial height, head length, head breadth, minimum frontal diameter, bizygomatic diameter, and head circumference, whereas white females had largest medial calf, thigh, forearm, and subscapular skinfolds. White infants had largest weight, head circumference, head length, head breadth, calf and chest circumferences, and medial calf and forearm skinfolds, whereas nose breadth, mouth breadth, and penile length were greatest in black newborns.

Keywords: anthropometry; black and white newborn infants; standardized curves.

Fig. 1

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for length, weight, and head circumference.

Fig. 2

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for head length and breadth.

Fig. 3

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for minimum frontal diameter, ear width, and ear length.

Fig. 4

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for craniofacial height, upper face height, and philtrum length.

Fig. 5

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for bizygomatic diameter, bigonial diameter, and mouth breadth.

Fig. 6

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for inner canthal distance, outer canthal distance, palpebral fissure length, nose breadth, and nose length.

Fig. 7

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for hand length, middle finger length, fifth finger length, ulnar palm length, and foot length.

Fig. 8

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for upper arm circumference, forearm circumference, thigh circumference, and calf circumference.

Fig. 9

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for chest circumference, waist circumference, and hip circumference.

Fig. 10

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for subscapular skinfold, triceps skinfold, and biceps skinfold.

Fig. 11

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for chest skinfold, abdomen skinfold, suprailiac skinfold, and thigh skinfold.

Fig. 12

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for forearm skinfold and medial calf skinfold.

Fig. 13

Standardized curves of black and white newborns for penile length and testicular volume.