Ethnic differences in the distribution of congenital malformations.

Major lethal and non-lethal congenital malformations occurring in babies born in Dudley Road Hospital in 1979, 1980 and 1981 were related to the ethnic group of the mother. There was an increased incidence of gastrointestinal malformations in the Indian group and an increased incidence of abnormalities that could be associated with consanguinity and increased maternal age in the Pakistani group. A sample population (2000 mothers) was obtained in the first 7 months of 1982 to determine the maternal age distribution and consanguinity rates in the various ethnic groups.