Anthropometric Comparison Of Cephalic Indices Between The Urhobo And Itsekiri Ethnic Groups Of Nigeria

Abstract

Cephalic index is an important parameter for classifying populations. In the present study, one thousand students with age ranging from 18 to 25 years of Urhobo and Itsekiri origin from rural and urban areas of Delta State of Nigeria were measured. The study was aimed at determining possible similarities and differences in the cephalic indices of the Urhobos and Itsekiris. The subjects were measured for head length and head breadth and cephalic index was worked out by dividing the head breadth by head length and multiplying by 100. Five hundred subjects comprising 250 males and 250 females for each tribe were measured. The cephalic indices for both groups were calculated and the result analyzed using z-test. On the average, the mean cephalic index in the two groups was >80 which puts them in the brachycephalic population. The z-test analysis indicated that there was significant difference between the Itsekiri males and Urhobo males and between the Itsekiri males and Urhobo females-However there was no significant difference between the two groups in general (P>0.05). The result of this study will be of importance in forensic medicine, anthropology and in genetics.