Anthropometric differences of Roma and Non-roma newborns in Virovitica-Podravina County

The aim of this work is to assess anthropometric parameters of the Roma newborns in Virovitica-Podravina County and compare them with the values for the non-Roma group. This retrospective investigation includes 204 Roma and 408 non-Roma newborns, born at the maternity ward of the Virovitica General Hospital in the period from 1991 to 2010. Various parameters, such as birth weight and length, head perimeter, as well as the ponderal index and percentile values of birth weight, were assessed. Roma newborns have, on average, 321.7 g smaller weight, 1.3 cm smaller length and 0.7 cm smaller head perimeter at birth, compared to non-Roma newborns. The ponderal index was found to be 0.06 less for Roma newborns, with higher frequency of hypothrophic newborns, according to the percentile values of the birth weight. The differences in anthropometric parameter values of Roma and non-Roma newborns may be due to the ethnic identity, but also due to the impact of the surroundings and the lifestyle of the population itself. Assessed data could provide a better understanding to, and political direction for the improvement of the reproductive, as well as the overall health of the Roma population.