Prediction of Stature from Hand Anthropometry: A Comparative Study in the Three Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

Introduction: Forensic anthropology is a branch of physical anthropology which interacts with other
disciplines pertaining to the understanding of crime and its investigations. Many human features have
been used to estimate stature from skeletal remains and body parts owing to the established
relationship between stature and different parts of the body.
Aims: The study was carried out to establish standard anthropometric values for stature estimation by
using hand length in the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria between January - April
2010.
Methodology: A total of 407 right hand dominant students (210 males and 197 females) aged 18 –
35 years who were purely of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba origin by both parents and grandparents, are
included in this study. Each person has been studied for measurements of stature, hand length and
handbreadth.
Results: No significant difference was observed in stature and hand dimensions between the Igbos
and Hausas. However the Yorubas are significantly shorter and have shorter hands than the Igbos
and the Hausas. The males are significantly taller than the females in all the three tribes and have
longer hands than the females in the Hausas and Igbos. Both the sexes of Yorubas are significantly
shorter than the Hausas and have significantly shorter hands than the Hausas and Igbos when
comparison was made between same sexes. The Yoruba females have shorter but wider hands than
the Hausa females. No significant difference was observed in stature and hand dimensions between
the Hausas and Igbos when compared between same sexes. Regression equations for estimation of
stature were formulated for each ethnic group and both sexes.
Conclusion: The study supports the fact that variations are present not only between races but also
among ethnic groups, thus formulae derived for one ethnic group and both sexes may not be
applicable to other ethnic group and sex. This study therefore provides standard anthropometric
values and regression equations for the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria.