Vol. 1, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

This present study was to determine stature and hand length and to ascertain (if any) the correlation between stature and hand length among adults of the Ibibio ethnic group of Nigeria. Adults of the Ibibio ethnic group participated in this anthropometric study. A total of 350 people (209 males and 141 females) between the ages of 18 and above were studied. These participants were randomly selected from the fourteen local government areas of Akwa Ibom state which constitute the Ibibio ethnic group. Verbal consent was obtained from each individual before Stature and hand lengths were measured using standard anthropometric techniques. Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and scatter plot graphs were calculated and obtained using Minitab statistical package for stature and hand length. The mean and standard deviation for stature in this study was 167.69±6.82 and 159.69±5.26 for male and female respectively. Mean and standard deviation for hand length was 21.05±1.24 and 21.24±1.26 for male right and left hands respectively; and 19.84±1.11 and 20.05±1.03 for female right and left hands respectively. Hand length showed a moderately strong significant linear correlation(r) with stature. (r=0.538 and r=0.503 (p<0.005) for male right and left hands respectively and (r=0.473 and r=0.511, (p<0.005) for female right and left hands respectively. The results from this study showed that the male had significantly higher figures in all parameters than their female counterpart except in the correlation coefficient of female stature to left hand, thus indicating the existence of sexual dimorphism in these parameters among the Ibibio ethnic group of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The result from this study is comparable to studies done in other ethnic groups and may be relevant in further anthropometric or forensic studies as it concerns Ibibio ethnic group of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.