Anthropometric Comparison of Nasal Indices between Hausa and Yoruba Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

Aims: To measure the nose of the Hausa and Yoruba ethnic groups in Nigeria and to compare same with other ethnic groups. The working hypothesis is that the two ethnic groups will have the same nose type since they share same environmental conditions.
Study Design: This was a prospective study involving students from two schools in Kano, Nigeria.
Place and Duration of Study: Goron Dutse Secondary School in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State and Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. The study started from September 2005 to November 2008.
Methodology: Five hundred and eighty two (582) subjects (both parents and 2 grandparents) purely Hausa or Yoruba, were randomly selected. They included 385 Hausa and 197 Yoruba ethnic groups. The nose height and breadth of each participant were measured in each subject using a sliding vernier caliper and the nasal index for each was calculated using the formula Nasal breadth/Nasal height X100. The data were analyzed using Minitab 16 software and Two-Sample T-Test was conducted to find out whether there is a statistically significant mean difference between sexes within a group and between same sexes between the two groups. The P value of .05 or less was considered statistically significant otherwise insignificant if more than.
Results: The mean nasal index for the Hausa ethnic group males was found to be 70.7 ± 11.3 which is greater than that of their females’ counterpart that was 67.2 ± 8.3. The Yoruba mean male nasal index was 100.9 ± 8.9 also greater than that of the Yoruba females which was 94.1 ± 8. The mean nasal index of the Hausa males as compared to the nasal index of the Yoruba males, showed statistically significant difference (P<.001). The same statistically significant difference between the nasal indices of both Hausa and Yoruba females was also found (P<.001)
Conclusion: Both ethnic groups (Hausa and Yoruba) do not have the same nasal index and therefore not the same nose type with a sexual dimorphism existing in both ethnic groups. In this study, we were able to establish nasal index appropriate for this ethnic group and may be useful as a reference data to the plastic surgeons and other clinicians.