Height determination using hand length in Nigerian school children

Abstract

Introduction. The anthropometric characteristics of 600 normal Nigeria School Children of ages between 5-10 years of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja, with no obvious deformities or previous history of trauma to the hand were selected for this study. Materials and methods. Of these children, males (n=300) with mean age of 7.10 ± 1.98, and females (n=300) with mean age of 7.68 ± 1.86) were investigated. The anthropometric characteristics of their height, age, weight, hand length, and body mass indices were measured, analysed statistically for any significant difference, and correlation between the parameters studied. Results. The results show some significant differences between the anthropometric parameters and a significant correlation (p< 0.001) between the height and hand length, and other parameters in both males and females. The study derived a linear regression and a multiple linear regression equations for Gbagyi School children of Nigeria from which height, age, weight, hand length and body mass index could be predicted if one factor is known. Conclusion. The results from the present study show that there was a positive correlation between height and hand length and other parameters indicating that height could be predicted using hand length, age, weight and body mass index among Gbagyi school children of Abuja-Nigeria.

Keywords

anthropometry - hand length - height - Nigeria - school children