Anthropometric Comparison of Cephalic Indices between the Jhar and Sayawa Ethnic Groups in Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
36-44
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/kijahrs.v3i1.9094
Viewed: 139 times
Downloaded: 111 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Salman J. I1, Muhammad M2, Musa B3, Kumurya H.S4, Madugu U.M5, Caleb A.D6, Auwal H7, Alfred A.W8, Tongle N.J9, Mosugu O.O10, Dauda I.M11, Shuaibu S12 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Cranial morphology assessed through anthropometric indices is fundamental for understanding population diversity, forensic identification, and clinical assessment, particularly within Nigeria’s multi-ethnic context. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare cephalic indices—defined as the ratio of maximum head breadth to maximum head length—between the Jhar and Sayawa ethnic groups in Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria, and to generate baseline reference data for these populations. A total of 410 participants (103 Jhar and 307 Sayawa), aged 5–66 years (mean = 24.0 ± 11.2; 291 males and 119 females), were recruited, and socio-demographic information was obtained using a structured pro forma. Head length and breadth were measured following standardized anthropometric techniques, and cephalic indices were calculated accordingly. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Version 27), with descriptive statistics, charts, and tables for presentation, and categorical associations evaluated using Chi-square tests (p < 0.05). The mean cephalic index was 79.33 ± 4.85 for Jhar and 78.32 ± 5.19 for Sayawa, values that fall within the mesocephalic range indicative of intermediate head shapes typical of populations in the region. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two ethnic groups (p > 0.05), suggesting a broadly shared cranial profile. These findings enrich the anthropometric database for Nigerian ethnic groups and have practical implications for forensic anthropology, clinical assessment, and future research on craniofacial variation in multi-ethnic populations.
Article Details
References
Adebisi, S. S., Turkula, K., Danborno, B., & Ojo, S. A. (2023). Anthropometric study of cephalic index of adult Tiv and Idoma ethnic group of north central Nigeria. Global Advance Research Journal, 13(2), 542–546.
Adah, A. (2024). Anthropometric analysis of cephalic index in Orlu population, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice, 7(2), 466–472.
Adeola, T. S., Okoh, R. E., & Nwadinobi, C. (2021). Anthropometric assessment of cranial indices among Nigerian ethnic groups. Journal of Morphological Science, 38(4), 210–218.
Akinbami, B. O., Amogu, O. M., & Uchendu, O. (2020). Cephalometric evaluation of head forms in a West African population. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Anatomy, 12(2), 55–62.
Bujnáková, D., Aspi, J., Gundlach, C., Kvist, L., & Hipsley, C. A. (2025). Wolf cranial morphology tracks population replacement in Fennoscandia. Royal Society Open Science, 12(6), 250358. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250358
Eboh, D. E. O., & Noronha, C. (2021). Cephalic index variations among major Nigerian tribes: Implications for craniofacial medicine. Anatomical Science International, 96(3), 378–386.
Farkas, L. G., Posnick, J. C., & Hreczko, T. M. (2019). Anthropometry of the head and face: Updated norms and applications. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 144(1), 455–466.
García-López, F., Rodríguez, L. M., & Pérez, R. (2020). Global comparative analysis of human cephalic indices. Archives of Craniofacial Research, 11(3), 127–134.
Grabcika, A., Kazoka, D., Vetra, A., Pilmane, M., & Viksna, A. (2024). Craniofacial measurements and indices trends in Latvian children aged 1–15. Children, 11(9), 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11091141
Hossain, S., Rahman, M., & Alam, M. (2021). Morphometric analysis of human skull dimensions and cephalic index correlation. Journal of Forensic Science Anthropology, 5(2), 91–97.
Ilayperuma, I., Somasundaram, P., & Nanayakkara, D. (2019). Craniofacial indices and sexual dimorphism: A Sri Lankan perspective. International Journal of Anatomy Research, 7(4), 7000–7005.
Kieser, J. A., de Boer, H. H., & L’Abbé, E. N. (2020). Historical evolution and modern applications of the cephalic index. Forensic Anthropology Review, 8(2), 44–53.
Matsumura, H., Tanijiri, T., Kouchi, M., Hanihara, T., Friess, M., Moiseyev, V., Stringer, C., & Miyahara, K. (2022). Global patterns of the cranial form of modern human populations described by analysis of a 3D surface homologous model. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 13826. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15883-3
Nwadioha, S. I., Akpan, N. E., & Owona, P. (2023). Biomechanical adaptation in cranial gear design based on Nigerian anthropometry. Ergonomics in Design, 31(2), 56–63.
Okwesili, O. R., Anikwe, J. C., Nwokike, O. C., & Ijezie, A. K. (2024). Changes in cephalic index and head circumference of Igbo children and adolescents in Southeastern Nigeria. Saudi Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 7(3), 35–41.
Percival, C. J., Devine, J., Hassan, C. R., Vidal-Garcia, M., O’Connor-Coates, C. J., Zaffarini, E., Roseman, C., Katz, D. C., & Hallgrimsson, B. (2022). The genetic basis of neurocranial size and shape across varied lab mouse populations. Journal of Anatomy, 241(2), 211–229. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13657
Qian, W., Zhang, M., Wan, K., Xie, Y., Du, S., Li, J., Mu, X., Qiu, J., Xue, X., Zhuang, X., Wu, Y., Liu, F., & Wang, S. (2022). Genetic evidence for facial variation being a composite phenotype of cranial variation and facial soft tissue thickness. Journal of Genetics and Genomics, 49(10), 934–942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgg.2022.02.020
Santosh, R., Patel, D., & Singh, S. K. (2022). Cephalometric parameters and cranial morphology in Indian populations. Journal of Clinical Anatomy Research, 10(1), 23–30.