Clegg E J, Clegg S D
Department of Anatomy, University of Aberdeen, Marischal College, UK.
Ann Hum Biol. 1989 Jan-Feb;16(1):25-39. doi: 10.1080/03014468900000132.
Fifty-nine Melanesian (MF) and 39 Indian (IF) Fijian full-term newborns were studied within 5 days of birth. Dimensions recorded included birthweight, length, crown-rump length, head circumference, upper limb length, bycondylar humeral and femoral diameters and four skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and thigh). Data from previous pregnancies of the presenting newborns' mothers were added to presenting birthweights, giving a total of 160 MF and 84 IF birthweights. In all birthweight and linear dimensions MFs were the bigger. Sex differences were significant in respect only of head circumference and the two bicondylar diameters. Multiple regression analysis showed dimensions in MF newborns to have few significant relationships with the maternal and socio-economic variables of age, parity, stature and years of education, but IFs had many more significant relationships. When covariance correction was made for the significant maternal and socio-economic variables (maternal age and parity) little effect on racial differences was seen. All linear dimensions except length could be subsumed into birthweight. MFs had greater triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses than IFs, a difference which was not much changed by covariance correction for significant maternal and socio-economic variables (maternal stature and years of education). Measurements of shape, expressed as ratios of linear dimensions, showed few racial differences but males had relatively broader limbs. For upper limb shape only, this difference was maintained after covariance correction for significant maternal and socio-economic variables (parity, stature and education). The greater size of MF infants at birth is associated with lower peri- and neonatal death rates. However this advantage is reversed during the remainder of the first year of life. It is suggested that better standards of infant care among IFs are responsible for this change.
对59名美拉尼西亚（MF）和39名印度（IF）斐济足月新生儿在出生后5天内进行了研究。记录的指标包括出生体重、身长、顶臀长、头围、上肢长度、肱骨髁间径和股骨髁间径以及四处皮褶厚度（肱三头肌、肩胛下、髂嵴上和大腿）。将这些新生儿母亲既往妊娠的数据与此次出生体重相加，得到总共160个MF和84个IF出生体重数据。在所有出生体重和线性指标方面，MF组更大。仅在头围和两个髁间径方面存在显著的性别差异。多元回归分析表明，MF新生儿的各项指标与母亲的年龄、产次、身高和受教育年限等母体及社会经济变量之间几乎没有显著关系，但IF组有更多显著关系。当对显著的母体及社会经济变量（母亲年龄和产次）进行协方差校正时，种族差异变化不大。除身长外，所有线性指标都可归纳为出生体重。MF组的肱三头肌和肩胛下皮褶厚度比IF组厚，对显著的母体及社会经济变量（母亲身高和受教育年限）进行协方差校正后，这种差异变化不大。以线性指标比值表示的形状测量结果显示种族差异较少，但男性的四肢相对更宽。仅在上肢形状方面，对显著的母体及社会经济变量（产次、身高和教育程度）进行协方差校正后，这种差异仍然存在。MF婴儿出生时体型较大与围产期和新生儿死亡率较低有关。然而，在生命的第一年剩余时间里，这种优势发生了逆转。有人认为，IF组更好的婴儿护理标准是造成这种变化的原因。
