Assessment of Sex from the Anthropometric Measurements of the Foot in Ogbomosho North Local Government Area

Anthropometry is the measurement of the body dimensions such as the length, the width, and the height for the purpose of understanding human physical variations and plays an important role in ergonomics, clothing designing, prosthetics, plastic surgery, and industrial designs, where statistical data about the distribution of the body dimensions in the population are used to optimize product. Appropriate use of anthropometry in design may improve well-being, health, comfort, and safety ^{1, 2}. Identification is often required in medico-legal practice. The problem mainly arises when the body is recovered in advanced stage of decomposition, mutilated state and skeletonized state. Sometimes, fragments of soft tissues are found disposed off in the open, in ditches, or rubbish dumps and this material is bought to forensic pathologist for examination. Over the last few decades, studies have been largely conducted on human foot for both ergonomic shoe design and forensic purposes ³.

Anthropologists continue to use anthropometric data to study the differences between various groups of people, though they no longer do so with the goal of promoting racial superiority. Measuring people can also provide information about how humans are changing, with such measurements being used by people who develop prosthesis, clothing, furniture, and other consumer goods which are dependent on average user size. Measurements can include length and breadth measurements of various aspects of the body, ranging from overall height to individual fingers along with weights. Measurements are also taken to learn more about the inside of the body, such as density measurements ⁴.

Sex determination is a very vital part of the analysis of human remains. Lots of researches are going on for assessing stature, sex, race, etc. from anthropometric measurements of different parts of the body for identification purpose ⁴. In this study, an attempt was made to find out the correlation of foot measurements with the sex (male/female) among Ogbomosho north local government people.

The study was conducted among the people of Ogbomosho north local government. 500 healthy subjects (250 males and 250 females) in the age bracket of 18-50 years were used. This is because most people attain their maximum growth at this age bracket, therefore their maximum foot length and breadth will be obtainable. The study was conducted in July 2013 among randomly selected volunteers from Sabo garage, Wazobia market, Orita naira area, Oke-anu area, Town Planning area, Stadium area, General area, Randa area, Papa Alajiki area, Star Parade Hotel area, Adiatu area and Atenda area of Ogbomosho north local government. Prior informed consent of the subjects for the study was done in English and Vernacular about the purpose of the study, equipment, measurement procedure and possible applications of data to be collected. None of the individuals that were asked to participate in the study was coerced in any way or provided with a reward for their involvement. All the subjects were barefooted at the time of recording the measurements. All the measurements for the study were taken with the subjects standing erect in an anatomical position. Subjects below 18 and above 50 years of age as well as those with apparent foot anomalies, inflammation, trauma, deformities and surgery (if any) were excluded because of their unsuitability for the study so as to get accurate result.

The mean values of the foot parameters obtained were compared statistically using student t-test. The results obtained indicated a sexual dimorphism with significantly higher values of all the parameters in males compared to females. The foot parameters were represented in the tables (1 - 20) and (figure 1- 5). Below will be abbreviated thus;

· Right foot length --- (RFL)

· Right foot breadth --- (RFB)

· Left foot length --- (LFL)

· Left foot breadth --- (LFB)

· Male --- (M)

· Female --- (F)

(Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8, Table 9, Table 10, Table 11, Table 12, Table 13, Table 14, Table 15, Table 16)

The present study revealed that the males’ average foot length was significantly greater than that of the females while foot breadth in males was significantly greater as compared to females in all age groups. The present study indicates a positive correlation between an individual foot measurements and gender. It also showed consistency with various studies that have been conducted on the estimation of sex from the anthropometric measurements of the foot by many researchers. The study conducted by Agnihotri et al ⁴ on 250 students (125 males, 125 females) age group 18-30 years in the year 2005 concluded that the average foot length was found to be 3cm greater in males as compared to females and average foot breadth of males was about 1cm broader than females. Sen et al ⁷ attempted to estimate sex from foot length, foot breadth and foot index among 350 adult Rajbangsi (175 men, 175 women) individuals likewise Tyagi et al ⁸. They all concluded that foot dimensions show a significant sex difference which supports the present study ⁸.

Bob-Manuel and Didiain established in their study that the mean value of right foot length in males and females were 26.92±1.02 and 25.00±1.33 and the mean value of right foot breadth for males and females were 9.87±0.53 and 9.14±0.58 ⁹. The mean values for the left foot length of males and females were 26.92±0.13 and 24.75±0.17 respectively. The mean value for the left foot breadth of males and females were 9.75±0.07 and 8.92±0.08 respectively. Males had significantly higher values of foot length and foot breadth than females.

Studies among the Haryanvi jats and North Indian mixed population that Haryanvi males had an average foot length about 2cm greater than females and foot breadth in males was about 1cm greater in males as compared to females while in North Indian mixed population males had an average foot length about 3cm greater than females and the average foot breadth in males was about 1cm greater than in females. Findings in this study are in agreement with their submission ³.

The present study had focused on the assessment of sex from the anthropometric measurements of the foot in Ogbomosho north local government area. It provided the necessary methodology for the estimation of sex from foot dimensions that is of immense value in forensic identifications especially in cases of mass disasters and criminal mutilation. It can be concluded that foot dimensions show significant sex differences and that sex can be estimated from foot dimensions with reasonable accuracy. With the statistical analysis, it can be concluded that any foot with length lesser than 26cm and breadth lesser than 11cm can be suggested to be that of a female while any foot with length greater than 26cm and breadth greater than 11cm can be suggested to be that of a male. Therefore, 26cm can be taken as the cut-off point for foot length and 11cm as the cut-off point for foot breadth in this locality.

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