Cephalofacial Indices of the Ibo and Yoruba Ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Cephalofacial analysis is an important parameter useful anthropologically to ascertain racial, ethnical and sexual differences. This work aimed at determining cephalic and facial indices and the anatomical types of head and face found among the Ibo and Yoruba tribes. Study was cited in two geographical locations in southern Nigeria depending on the ethnic group. Five hundred human subjects were randomly selected,  comprising 300 and 200 subjects of the Ibo and Yoruba ethnic groups respectively with age range of 18-35 years.

Results obtained showed that Ibo males and females had mean cephalic indices of 81.79±0.43 and 81.68±0.52 respectively and facial (prosopic) indices of 75.49±0.50 and 73.76±0.54 respectively while the Yoruba males and females had mean cephalic indices of 80.40±0.49 and 78.47±0.66 respectively and facial indices of 77.60 ± 2.82 and 73.72±1.05 respectively. Based on the Cephalic Index, the dominant head form found among the Ibo ethnic group was brachycephaly while the Yoruba ethnic group had a head form ranging from brachycephaly to mesocephaly. Facial indices showed dominant hypereuriprosopic face type for the two ethnic groups. The cephalic index only showed sexual dimorphism  in the Yoruba ethnic group but the facial index  showed significant gender difference in the two ethnic groups studied.Data got from this research could be useful in forensic medicine and reconstructive surgeries.

Keywords: Cephalic index, facial index, sexual dimorphism.