Study of some Anthropometric Parameters of Itsekiri and Okpe Ethnic Groups of Delta State, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

This determines and compares the human physical variations in some selected anthropometric parameters among the Itsekiri and Okpe ethnic communities Delta, Nigeria. 1000 apparently healthy adult subjects comprising 250 males and 250 females from each of the communities, were randomly selected for this study. Using standard laboratory procedures, height, knee height, waist circumference, hip circumference, arm length, head length, head breadth, nasal length, and nasal breadth were measured while nasal index, waist/hip ratio and cephalic index were calculated using standard formulae. Results showed that the two ethnic groups presented typical nose (platyrrhine) and head (dolicocephaly) types for African populations. Except for nasal index (90.78 vs 92.05), the Itsekiris’ presented higher mean head length (18.45cm vs 18.29cm), head breadth (13.46cm vs 13.06cm), cephalic index (73.04 vs 71.84), nasal height(4.59cm vs 4.38cm), nasal breadth (4.14cm vs 4.06cm), waist circumference (80.75cm vs 77.09cm), hip circumference (94.64cm vs 92.05cm), waist-hip ratio (0.85 vs 0.83), height (169.06cm vs165.28cm), knee height (49.82cm vs 47.05cm) and arm length (38.93cm vs36.63cm) than Okpes. Overall, sexual dimorphism was observed in the ethnic groups, with males showing higher values than females (p<0.05). This data is recommended to anthropologists, forensic experts’ geneticists and medical practitioners who may find it very  useful.

Keywords: Anthropometry, Nigeria, Parameters, Ethnic group