Interpupillary distance and head circumference in a Mozambican population

Resumen

Background: To investigate the interpupillary distance (IPD) and head circumference (HC) of Mozambican university students and to highlight the importance of anthropometric data in unprivileged populations. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a random selection of students of university and pre-university courses w-+as conducted in the region of the capital city, Maputo. All the participants were examined at the beginning of 2008/2009 academic course in a centre of higher education of Maputo. The examination included the measurement of IPD and HC measurement. Results: A total of 423 subjects (197 males and 226 females) between 17 and 26 years (23.01 years ± 2.17) were examined. The average value of IPD was 68.17mm ± 3.46 for the males, and 67.26mm ± 3.64 for the females. The average value of HC was 57.17cm ± 2.12 for the males and 56.35cm ± 2.25 for the females. No statistically significant differences for males and females were found either in IPD and HC (p = 0.039, p = 0.920). Conclusion: The average values of IPD and HC in this Mozambican young-adult population were considered larger than in others populations. The values determined in this study have applications for clinical and surgical practise, frames and lenses industry and for visual health international development programs