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Summary
Indigenous Fijian women have a significantly higher twinning rate (9.4 per 1000) compared to Indian women (6.2 per 1000) in Fiji. This ethnic difference in twinning incidence persists across various maternal ages and parities.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Epidemiology
- Human Genetics
- Anthropology
Background:
- Twinning rates exhibit considerable ethnic and geographic variations.
- Previous research suggests potential genetic and environmental factors influencing twinning incidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the twinning rates between indigenous Fijians and ethnic Indians in Fiji.
- To analyze ethnic disparities in twinning incidence within a Pacific Island population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of birth registration data from Fiji between 1976 and 1981.
- Standardization for maternal age to compare twinning rates between ethnic groups.
- Cross-validation using hospital records to assess twinning rates.
Main Results:
- Indigenous Fijians exhibit a higher twinning rate (9.4/1000 maternities) than Indians (6.2/1000 maternities).
- The ~40% higher twinning rate in Fijians compared to Indians remained consistent across maternal age groups and parity.
- Hospital records confirmed higher rates for both groups but maintained the observed ethnic difference.
Conclusions:
- Significant ethnic differences in twinning rates exist between Fijians and Indians in Fiji.
- The findings do not support a hypothesis of universally low twinning rates in the Pacific Islands.
- The observed Fijian twinning rate is higher than expected for populations of Mongoloid descent, while the Indian rate is lower than in their subcontinent of origin.