Relationship between external ear morphometry and stature among Hausa population from selected tertiary institutions in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Body anthropometry has been proved to be useful tool for height determination of individual. The aim of this study was to determine relationship of external ear morphometry with stature among Hausa population from selected tertiary institutions in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY: Using simple random sampling, a total number of 390 students aged between 18 to 30 years participated in the study. Eight paired external ear parameters were measured using direct anthropometric techniques. The height was measured using standard protocols. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationship of external ear morphometry with height and logistic regression was used for the height prediction from the ear morphometry.

RESULTS: The results of the present study showed that the mean values of ear dimensions was significantly higher in males compared to the female (P > 0.01) with the exception of left and right tragus to antihelix, ear lobe length, auricular projection which are significantly higher in female (P < 0.01). Irrespective of sex, significant positive correlation (moderate/strong) was observed in most of the variables with negative correlation in some like right tragus-antihelix (r = -0.109, p = 0.05) and left tragus-antihelix (r = -0.171, p = 0.01). Ear length present higher correlation (r = 0.514). A correlation of external ear dimensions with height based on sex shows that right and left EL, EW, ELL and TIN as well as left ELL were positively correlate with height with higher correlation in right ear length (r = 0.259). Similarly, for the female, right and left EL as well as right TH and right ELL were also positively correlate with height with higher correlation in right EL (r = 0.207).

CONCLUSION: A linear equation model for prediction of height from given ear dimension was generated. Therefore, ear morphometric parameters may be used as an additional tool in determination height among Hausa population.