Fetal binocular distance - No differences between ethnic groups

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect if interethnic differences f or fetal binocular distance exist between the autochthonous Belgian populat ion and immigrants from Turkey or Morocco, and to evaluate the need for dif ferent reference charts by ethnicity. Methods: A prospective cross-sectiona l study was performed. In 246 pregnant women who presented for routine pren atal ultrasound between 18 and 40 weeks of gestation age the binocular dist ance was measured. Polynomial regression was performed for the three ethnic groups. Results: The population consisted of 171 autochthonous Belgian wom en, 31 women from Turkish origin and 44 women from Moroccan origin. A stati stically significant difference for the fetal binocular distance was noted between the Moroccan versus the autochthonous Belgian and Turkish fetuses ( F test, p = 0.047), The order of magnitude of this statistical difference i s extremely small and does not result in clinical relevance. Conclusion: A small, but statistically significant difference exists for the fetal binocu lar distance between fetuses of Moroccan origin versus those of autochthono us Belgian or Turkish origin, This difference is of no clinical importance and there is no need to adapt reference charts for ethnicity when studying these three groups, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.