IJAR.2021.120
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 9; Issue 2.2 (May 2021)
Page No.: 7984-7990
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2021.120
Height Estimation using Arm Span as a Proxy among Ghanaians
JoshuaTetteh 1, Nancy Darkoa Darko 2, Chrissie Stansie Abaidoo *3, Thomas Diby 4.
1 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
2 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
*3 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
4 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Corresponding Author: Chrissie Stansie Abaidoo, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, Tel: +233 208 126 817, E-Mail: knustsmsanat1@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Height is an important anthropometric tool and most popular characteristic parameter employed in human identification. However, body height cannot always be ascertained by direct measurement due to various deformities of the extremities in patients with injuries. There is accumulating evidence to demonstrate the use of arm span measurements in the estimation of height but there is very little information on the use of arm span measurements in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to determine the relationship between height, arm span and sex as well as the correlational efficiency of using arm span as a surrogate for height. This cross-sectional study recruited 716 participants [328 males and 388 females] aged 18 to 30 years. Ethical approval and informed participant consent were sought. Male participants were taller and had wider arm span than the females with a statistically significant value [p < 0.001]. The results also showed that, the mean arm span measurement was higher than the mean height measurement with values of males [arm span: 180.57 cm; height: 170.79 cm] and females [arm span: 168.60 cm; height: 161.19 cm]. There was a statistically significant strong positive correlation [p < 0.001] between the arm span and height in the male, female and pooled sample with “r” values of 0.815, 0.788 and 0.873 respectively. Sex-specific equations to predict height from arm span measurements among Ghanaians were established. This study has developed sex specific equations to predict height from arm span measurements and has proved that arm span can effectively predict height using regression equations.
Key words: Height, Arm Span, Ghana, Identification, Forensic, Anthropometry.
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