Anogenital Distance of Newborns and Causes of Variation in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

The aim of this study is to determine the anogenital distance in male and female newborns in Zaria and possible causes of variation. The anogenital distance (AGD), serum testosterone and anthropometric measurements of 200 newborns was measured (100 male, 100 female). Data obtained were analysed using Student t-test, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation as applicable. The mean total anogenital distance was 22.53±0.70 mm, (males: 31.11±0.64 mm and in females: 13.89±0.26 mm). Newborns of Igbo ethnicity had the highest mean AGD of 32.77±1.63 mm (males) while the females had a mean anus to fourchette distance of 14.63±1.14 mm. There was significant positive correlation between anogenital distance and head circumference in male newborns and birth weight in female newborns in the population examined (p<0.05). Testosterone concentration, placenta weight, birthlength and birthorder did not correlate with Anogenital distance. It is concluded that ethnicity, birth weight and head circumference significantly affect anogenital distance in the population examined in Zaria, Nigeria.