Sexual Dimorphism in Facial Dimensions of Adult Ijaws

Abstract

Facial anthropometric parameters were determined in one thousand (1000) subjects comprising five hundred (500) males and five hundred (500) females aged 18 years and above. The subjects were randomly selected from Port Harcourt and Yenegoa in Bayelsa State and they were Ijaw by both parents. The facial parameters were measured using a sliding vernier caliper. The results obtained showed that Ijaw males had a mean facial height of 11.87+1.59, nasal height 4.71+0.63cm, maxillary height 2.49+0.33cm, mandibular height 4.60+0.61cm and oro-facial height 7.12+0.9scm while mean facial dimensions for female Ijaws were facial height 10.71+1.43cm, nasal height 4.43+0.59cm, maxillary height 2.39+0.32cm, mandibular height 4.28+0.57cm and oro-facial height 6.50+0.87cm. Statistical analysis using the student's Z-test showed that ijaw males had significantly higher values than Ijaw females in all the facial parameters measured (p<0.05).This study has shown that as in most other populations, facial parameters are sexually dimorphic among the Ijaws. The values could be very useful as anthropometric reference values and in reconstructive surgery among Ijaws in Nigeria.