Care-seeking behaviour for malaria treatment among community primary school teachers ( a cross sectional study)

Abstract

Background: The identification of sex from the skeleton is of great medico-legal and anthropological importance. The hip bone is commonly used. The ischio-pubic index is one of the parameters used for sex determination because of its reliability.

Aim: To determine from radiographs, ischio-pubic index of Nigerians. This will help to establish a baseline anthropometric data and to define standard values for the local population.

Methods: Standard anterio-posterior (AP) pelvic radiographs of 100 normal adults comprising 54 females and 46 males were employed in this study. Radiographs were randomly selected from the Radiology departments of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt. The pubic lengths and ischial lengths were measured using the method adopted by Washburn and the ischio-pubic index was calculated.

Results: The mean ischio-pubic index was greater in females (102.7±5.7). This difference between the sexes was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The pubic bone was longer in females but the Ischium was longer in males.

Conclusion: The result of this study confirmed previous reports that irrespective of race, the ischio-pubic index for females is significantly greater than that of males and that ischio-pubic index can be accurately used for sex determination in this environment. Ischio-pubic index greater than 90 will most probably be that of a female and less than 90 will most probably be that of a male Nigerian in Port Harcourt.

Key words: Ischio-pubic index, Sex determination, Anthropometry, Pelvic radiograph, Nigerians in Port Harcourt