ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Anthropometric measurements, such as craniofacial forms especially in the first days after birth are important for the assessment of neonatal health status and results obtained from such measurements are used in pediatrics, orofacial surgery and diagnostic comprehension between patient and normal populations. There is no published literature about the types of head and face shapes in the Kanuri and Babur/Bura newborns of Maiduguri metropolis. Henee, this study was undertaken to document the various craniofacial forms of newborns of Maiduguri metropolis. Head length, head width, head circumference, face length, face width, prosopic and cephalic indices were measured in 120 newborns of the Maiduguri metropolis. The mean cephalic index in Kanuri male and female newborns were 70.03 percent and 77.15 percent respectively while that of the Babur/Bura males and females newborns were 73.60 percent and 77.23 percent, respectively. The mean prosopic index in Kanuri male and female newborns were 83.77 percent and 82.84 percent, respectively, while that of the Babur/Bura males and females newborns were 80.74 percent and 81.03 percent, respectively. On comparison with existing literature the Kanuri males and females are dolicocephalic, Babur/Bura males and females are mesocephalic, while both the Kanuri and Babur/Bura newborns have the hypereuryprosopic type of face shape thus the data obtained from this study can be used as local standards for diagnostic and anthropometric evaluation.
Las medidas antropométricas, tales como las formas craneofaciales especialmente en los primeros días después del nacimiento, son importantes para la evaluación del estado de salud neonatal y los resultados obtenidos a partir de estas mediciones se utilizan en pediatría, cirugía orofacial y la comprensión diagnóstica entre el paciente y la población normal. No hay literatura publicada sobre los tipos de formas de cabeza y rostro en los los Kanuri y Babur/Bura recién nacidos de Maiduguri. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para documentar las diversas formas craneofaciales de los recién nacidos de Maiduguri. Fueron medidos la longitud, ancho y circunferencia de la cabeza, altura facial, ancho de la cara, índice prosopo y cefálico en 120 recién nacidos de Maiduguri. La media del índice cefálico en hombres y mujeres Kanuri recién nacidos fueron 70,03 por ciento y 77,15 por ciento, respectivamente; mientras que la de hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura recién nacidos fueron de 73,60 por ciento y 77,23 por ciento respectivamente. La media del índice prosop en hombres y mujeres kanuri recién nacidos fueron 83,77 por ciento y 82,84 por ciento, respectivamente, mientras que la de la hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura recién nacidos fueron 80,74 por ciento y 81,03 por ciento, respectivamente. En comparación con la literatura existente, los hombres y mujeres Kanuri son dolicocéfalos, hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura son mesocéfalos, mientras que los hombres y mujeres Kanuri y Babur / Bura recién nacidos tienen tienen la cara hipereuriprosopo. Los datos obtenidos de este estudio pueden ser utilizados como las normas locales para el diagnóstico y evaluación antropométrica.