Gender identification from thumbprint ridge thickness among Hausa population of Nigeria using likelihood ratio and posterior probability density

The objectives of the present study were to identify gender from  thumbprints ridge thickness using likelihood ratio and posterior probability density as well as to determine which of the three areas of thumb has more potential in sex determination. Ridge thickness for 97 male and 97 female subjects within the age range of 18-25 years were examined within the 25 mm2 areas of the ulnar, radial and proximal parts of the thumb making up 1164 areas of the thumbprints. Female subjects exhibited finer ridge count compared to males in ulnar area of both sides of the thumbs. In the radial area, females were found to have finer ridge counts as in ulnar side, but with some coarse ridge. For the right proximal ridge thickness, a similar  trend to that in the radial area was noticed, however, in the left thumbprint, males tend to have finer ridge counts compared to females. It was noticed that chance of sex inference from likelihood ratio decreased in the following order: proximal ridge thickness < radial ridge thickness < ulnar ridge  thickness as ridge thickness decreases in favor of females but left proximal ridge thickness showed increased in likelihood ratio as ridge thickness decreased in favor of males. Ridge thickness in ulnar area showed more discrimination power compared to the other two areas studied. Considering equal probability for each sex, likelihood ratio reveals the applicability of ridge thickness in sex inference among Hausa population.Keywords: Forensic sciences, likelihood ratio, Hausa population, ridge thickness, sex inference

Evaluation of asymmetry using thumbprint minutiae among Hausa population of Kano State, Nigeria

The present study was aimed at determining the existence of FA in Hausa populations using thumbprint minutiae. The participants included 112 males and 105 females of Hausa Ethnic descent, aged between 18-25 years. The minutiae of the plain thumbprints were determined from a circle with radius that cut across the nucleus of the fingerprints. The result showed that in signed asymmetry bifurcation, crossbar, break, point/dot into ridges and point/dot between ridges exhibited sexual dimorphism. The left ward asymmetry in male was exhibited in bifurcation, cross bar, trifurcation bifurcation, break, bridge, opposite bifurcation, in "M" convergence, in "M" bifurcation and Point/Dot into ridges. Similarly, in female bifurcation, trifurcation bifurcation, enclosure big, opposite bifurcation, convergence, in "M" bifurcation and return exhibit left ward asymmetry. For absolute and composite asymmetry the significant differences was observed in end, enclosure (small), bridge and return. In the entire minutiae types only ridge bifurcation exhibited directional asymmetry in males and six other minutiae types in females. In conclusion, the presence of sexual dimorphism in thumbprint ridge minutiae was demonstrated in the present study. The leftward asymmetry was observed in both sexes in different types minutiae. Females were observed to exhibit directional type of asymmetry more than the males in this population.Keywords: Asymmetry, Environmental stress, Hausa population, Ridge minutiae, Sexual dimorphis

Age specific sex differences in BMI and skin fold thickness among children of Kazaure Emirate, Nigeria

An important phenomenon occurring in human population is the variation in their physical morphology. The physical dimensions of human body are influenced by geographical, racial, age and gender factors. Physical anthropometry provides the technique by which human body dimensions can be evaluated and measured. The aim of the study was to determine age specific sex differences in height, weight, BMI and skin fold thickness among children aged 5- 12 years from Kazaure emirate, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to investigate sexual dimorphism in the measured variables. A total of 1212 primary school pupils aged 5-12 years (659 males and 553 females) were involved. All the anthropometric variables were taken using standard protocols. An independent t-test was used to determine gender differences using SPSS version 20.0and P ≤ 0.05 considered a level of significance. The results showed a significant gender difference in height and weight at age of 8 years (P = 0.009) and (P< 0.001), respectively. For bicep skin fold thickness (BSF), the gender difference was observed at 7 to 12years of age with (P< 0.001). Similar pattern in triceps TSF) and suprailiac (SISF), showed significant difference at age six (P< 0.001) and (P =0.01), respectively. All ages showed differences in subscapular skin fold thickness (SSF)(P< 0.001). In the SSF, female had higher mean value while for height and weight the reverse trend was the case. In conclusion, the gender differences in SSF may be linked with higher adipose tissue in female than in the male counterparts in childhood.Keywords: Anthropometry, BMI, Skin fold thickness, age, sex, Nigeri

Evaluation of the influence of maternal parity on neonatal anthropometric parameters among Hausas in Kano state

Maternal Parity has been shown to increase the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), prematurity, and mortality. The study was designed to evaluate the influence of maternal parity on neonatal anthropometric parameters among Hausas in Kano. Five hundred and twenty one subjects (mothers and babies) participated in the study. Questionnaire was used to collect the biodata, parity and other anthropometric variables (birth weight, birth length, head circumference, chest circumference, thigh circumference, mid upper arm circumference, hand length, hand breadth, foot length, foot breadth).The anthropometric variables were measured using standard procedures.One way ANOVA was used to determine the differences in neonatal variables across different categories of parity. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 20 statistical software was used for data analyses. The result shows that the mothers within the 1st category of parity give birth to babies with lower birth weight and smaller thigh circumference when compared with 2nd, 3rd and 4th. However, in birth length, head circumference and chest circumference of the neonate the differences (p < 0.001) were observed only between 1st and 2nd category of parity. Moreover, the mid upper arm circumference has similar pattern with addition to 3rd categories. In conclusion, the parity of the mother was found to influence the neonatal  anthropometric variables.Keywords: Maternal Parity, Neonatal Anthropometry, Hausa

Regression equation for estimation of length of humerus from its mophometry in a Nigerian population

Background: While intact long bones are most ideal in estimation of the stature of unidentified individual, in forensic cases as may occur when natural or man-made disasters present bone fragments, regression equations derived from measurements of these bone fragments have been used to determine the length of the intact long bone.Objective: The study reports on the morphometry of the humerus and the estimation of its length using regression equations in a Nigerian population.Methods: The maximum length of the humerus was measured using an osteometric board while the Anatomical neck circumference (ANC), Anatomical neck diameter (AND), mid shaft diameter (MSD), olecranon vertical diameter (OVD), olecranon transverse diameter (OTD), transverse diameter of the inferior articular surface (IASD), transverse trochlea diameter (TTD) proximal point of the caput humeri and collum anatomicum (CHCAD), proximal edge of the fossa olecrani (PEFO) and the most distal point of trochlea humeri (FOTHD) and the biepicondylar width (BEW) of the distal segment were measured using a digital vernier caliper. Partial correlation and Persian regression were used to derive linear regression equations for the measured parameters that showed correlation with the humeral length.Results: Estimation of the maximum length of the humerus from the measures of its ANC, FOTHD, and MSD was achieved with relative accuracy. In deriving regression equations for the length of the humerus of the right and left sides, irrespective of side, the ANC and MSD were both significant in estimating the maximum length of the humerus; on the right side only the ANC exhibited significant correlation, while on the left side both the ANC and FOTHD exhibited significant correlation.Conclusion: These previously unreported findings may help in anthropometric, forensic, and archaeological investigations for the estimation of the stature of the remains of unknown bodies by using regression equations in a Nigerian population.Keywords: Regression equations, humerus, morphometry, Nigerian populatio