Determination of stature from cephalic indices among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups of Kogi State in Nigeria

Abstract

Cephalic index is an important feature that characterizes different races. The study aimed at comparing the cephalic indices between the two genders and to determine the stature among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups in Nigeria. The subjects were measured for cephalic length, breadth and subject height and the cephalic indices were calculated by dividing the cephalic breadth by cephalic length, and then multiply by 100. 844 subjects of Okun and Ebira origin of Kogi state were measured, 211 males and 211 females for each tribe were measured. Fischer’s formula was used to determine the sample size because the population size is > 10,000. The cephalic breadth and length was measured using a spreading caliper and the subject height was measured with a stadiometer. The data was analyzed using Pearson’s Chisquare analysis test for association, trends and distribution difference of the pattern (confidence level at 95%). The mean cephalic indices of both Okun and Ebira ethnic group were >75 and >70 which belongs to mesocephalic and doliocephalic group respectively. There were significant differences in cephalic indices between both ethnic groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in cephalic indices between males and females of each ethnic group. Stature was better predicted from cephalic indices for Ebira males (r= 0.386) when compared to the Ebira females (r= 0.127), Okun males (r= 0.296) and Okun females (r = 0.268). All predictions were significant except for Ebira females.

Keywords: mesocephalic, doliocephalic, cephalic indices, stature, sex