Estimation of Stature from Some Selected Cephalofacial Parameters among Teenage Indigenes of Ogoja Local Government Area Cross River State

Abstract

Estimation of stature from body segment parameters finds usefulness in forensic sciences and other medical applications. However, these parameters are highly, sex, race and age dependent. The present study measured some cephalofacial parameters with a view to providing cephalofacial anthropometric parameter that could be used in estimation of stature among teenage indigenes of Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State. A total of 300 teenagers (13-19 years), comprising 150 males and 150 females were used. Maximum stature, head circumference, nasal height and nasal width were obtained by direct measurement. The findings of the study showed that males mean values are significantly higher (p<0.05) than females for all parameters: Stature (males, 157.30±6.81; females, 155.70±5.71), head circumference (males, 55.38±1.55; females, 54.62±1.52), nasal height (males, 4.54±0.43; females, 4.39±0.44) and nasal width (males, 4.95±0.50; females, 4.74±0.58). Results of this study reveals that male head circumference significantly (p<0.05) correlate with stature. Hence only male head circumference (HC) could be employed in the estimation of stature using the linear regression equation (11.48 × HC + (-478.70)). The analysis of the measured parameters shows that nasal height and width are not reliable tools for stature prediction amongst Ogoja teenage population.