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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2015  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 66-69

Ischiopubic index of Edo people in Benin City, Nigeria


1 Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
2 Department of Radiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Date of Web Publication14-Jan-2016

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Dennis E. O. Eboh
Department of of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, PMB 1, Abraka
Nigeria
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2315-7992.174012

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  Abstract 

Background: Sex determination stands a key position in the human identification process. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the pubic length, ischial length, and ischiopubic index, and to ascertain their usefulness in sex determination among Edo people. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study that utilized 114 male and 86 female anteroposterior pelvic radiographs of patients who attended the radiological services of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, between January 2010 and September 2014. The subjects were in the age range of 18-60 years, with a mean age of 36.56 ± 11.93 years. Pubic and ischial lengths were measured with digital Vernier Caliper and ischiopubic index derived. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical package of social sciences version 20. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The ischial and pubic lengths exhibited statistically significant sex differences (P < 0.05). Only the pubic length has the ability for accurate sexing of the bone, as 61.1% in males and 46.5% in females could be identified by the demarking point, using "mean ± 2SD." Ischiopubic index exhibited significant sexual dimorphism (P < 0.05) with a very high percentage identified (≥93%) by demarking points in males and females, using "mean ± 2SD and mean ± 3SD." Conclusion: Ischiopubic index is relevant in sex determination.

Keywords: Forensic anthropology, ischiopubic index, ischium, pubis, sex determination


How to cite this article:
Eboh DE, Ogbeide OU, Omorogbe NA. Ischiopubic index of Edo people in Benin City, Nigeria. Ann Bioanthropol 2015;3:66-9

How to cite this URL:
Eboh DE, Ogbeide OU, Omorogbe NA. Ischiopubic index of Edo people in Benin City, Nigeria. Ann Bioanthropol [serial online] 2015 [cited 2018 Feb 20];3:66-9. Available from: http://www.bioanthrojournal.org/text.asp?2015/3/2/66/174012


  Introduction Top


The hip bone is a tripartite bone with a focal point at the acetabulum. [1] The ileum, which is the largest, makes up the upper part of the hip bone, joining the ischium and pubis posteriorly and anteriorly, respectively, to form the acetabular socket. [2]

One of the physical adaptations associated with bipedalism in modern man is the design of the hip bone which ''is suitable for sex determination, as it exhibits the differences between the male and female, and also the special adaptation of female hip bone for child bearing''. [3],[4] The dimorphic nature of the hip bone is significant in physical anthropology, anatomy, obstetrics, and gynecology. [5]

Various studies utilizing the hip bone have been conducted in Nigeria [3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] and other parts of the globe [12],[13],[14] to establish standards for human identification by sex in the respective populations. In spite of the above, little or none is known regarding sex determination from ischiopubic index of the Edo people. The purpose of this study was to generate population-specific data from ischial and pubic lengths and ascertain the feasibility of sex determination from these dimensions and ischiopubic index among the Edo.


  Materials and Methods Top


This was a retrospective study conducted between March 2014 and September 2014. All patients of Edo ethnic group who attended the radiological services of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, between January 2010 and September 2014 formed the study population. Two hundred anteroposterior pelvic radiographs (114 males and 86 females) were used for the study. The age of the subjects were between 18 years and 60 years, with a mean age of 36.56 ± 11.93 years.

All the radiographs used were normal and showed no underlying bone disease or fracture of any kind. Only radiographs with the best alignment at the inferior margins of the pubic bones at the pubic symphysis were measured.

Method of measurements

The method of measurements and derivation of ischiopubic index adopted were as described by Washburn [14] and Schult and Adolf: [15]

  • Ischial length: This was taken as the "distance from the point where the three bones meet in the acetabulum to ischial tuberosity (AC)" [Figure 1]; [14]
    Figure 1: Measurement of pubic length (AB)

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  • Pubic length: This was taken as the "distance from the point where the three bones meet in the acetabulum to pubic tubercle (AB)" [Figure 2]. [14]
Figure 2: Measurement of ischial length (AC)

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These distances were measured in millimeters with the aid of digital Vernier Caliper (Mitutoyo corporation, Japan). Each distance was measured twice and the average was recorded as the actual distance to reduce the error of measurements.

Ischiopubic index = (pubic length ÷ ischial length) × 100. [14]

Data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive statistics to summarize the information, and inferential statistics (independent samples t-test) to verify if there were significant sex differences. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. In order to determine sex, the actual ranges for the male and female sexes were calculated. Okoseimiema and Udoaka [9] stated that "the highest and lowest values of this range were used in sex determination and the identification point is the low or high value obtained from the actual range of the values measured from male and female pelvis." They also stated that "the demarking point is the low or high values obtained from the calculated range got by using the formulae mean ± 3SD (where SD = standard deviation) in accordance with Jit and Singh [16] or mean + 2SD in accordance with Rao." [17]


  Results Top


The mean ischial length was greater in males than in females but the mean pubic length and ischiopubic index were greater in females compared to males [Table 1]. This sex differences in the parameters studied were statistically significant (P < 0.05) [Table 2].
Table 1: Range, mean, identification point, and demarking point of parameters studied


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Table 2: Test of significant difference between males and females


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The identification point for ischial length was 65.39 mm in males and 89.76 mm in females, based on the minimum value and maximum value of ischial length in females and males, respectively. These identification points assigned 0.9% to males and 0.0% to females. The demarking point for ischial length was <64.93 mm in males and >88.71 mm in females, based on the limiting points of the calculated range (mean ± 2SD) while it was <60.71 mm in males and >93.62 mm in females based on the limiting points of the calculated range (mean ± 3SD). The percentage identified by demarking point in both sexes using both "mean ± 2SD and mean ± 3SD" was 0.0%.

Identification point for pubic length was <69.28 mm in males and >84.36 mm in females, based on the minimum value and maximum value of pubic length in females and males, respectively. These identification points assigned 26.3% to males and 8.1% to females. The demarking point for pubic length was <69.98 mm in males and >79.58 mm in females, based on the limiting points of the calculated range (mean ± 2SD); the percentage identified by the demarking point was 61.1% in males and 46.5% in females. When the limiting points of the calculated range was based mean ± 3SD, the demarking point for pubic length was <65.70 mm in males and >84.86 mm in females; the percentage identified by the demarking point was 28.9% in males and 5.8% in females.

Identification point for ischiopubic index was <97.49 in males and >105.14 in females, based on the minimum value and maximum value of ischiopubic index in females and males, respectively. These identification points assigned 98.2% to males and 60.5% to females. The demarking point for ischiopubic index was <99.37 in males and >97.28 in females, based on the limiting points of the calculated range (mean ± 2SD); the percentage identified by the demarking point was 99.1% in males and 100.0%% in females. When the limiting points of the calculated range was based mean ± 3SD, the demarking point for ischiopubic index was <95.49 in males and >102.15 in females; percentage identified by the demarking point was 95.6% in males and 93.0% in females.


  Discussion Top


In the present study, ischial and pubic lengths and ischiopubic index were assessed regarding their dimorphic nature as well as degree of identification. The mean ischial length was significantly higher in males than in females while the mean pubic length and ischiopubic index in females were significantly higher than in males (P < 0.05). This observation was in agreement with some previous reports. [3],[4],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12] Our result was at a variance with a study conducted in Portugal [13] that reported that the mean ischiopubic index in males was greater than in females. This dispersion might be related to genetic and environmental factors, which are which are known denominators for intra- and inter-population variability.

The mean ischial and pubic lengths in this study are lower than some studies conducted previously [3],[8],[9] but higher than the study by Ekanem et al. [6] The mean value of ischiopubic index in the present study was similar to some previous reports [8],[9] and lower than that reported by Ekanem et al. [6] and Oladipo et al. [3] These differences in skeletal forms and morphology might be adduced to genetics and environmental factors such as nutrition.

In the present study, sexing of ischial length based on demarking point was not possible because the percentage identified was 0.0% in males and females. Pubic length showed improved levels of percentage identified by demarking point, and only by using the limiting range based on 'mean ± 2SD' is sexing possible, which is better in the males (61.1%) than females (46.5%). Nonetheless, these parameters showed sexual dimorphism based on statistically significant gender differences (P = 0.001). Apart from pubic length that gave 61.1% identified by the demarking point, using the limiting range based on "mean ± SD," they could not be used in accurate sexing because the percentage identified by the demarking points was poor.

Regarding ischiopubic index, the percentage identified using demarking points in both sexes was observed to be very high (≥93%) in both the sexes. Consequently ischiopubic index provided accurate sex determination of the pelvis.

Previous studies also reported the percentage identified using demarking points in various populations. Ekanem et al. [6] observed 46.67% in males and 50% in females; Osunwoke et al. [8] reported 56% in males and 84% in females; Okoseimiema and Udoaka [9] observed 68.72% in males and 62.53 in females; Oladipo et al. [11] found out 78% and 91% in males and females, respectively; Oladipo et al. [10] reported 84% in males and 94% in females and 90% in males and 98% in females, among the Kalabari and Ikwere, respectively.


  Conclusion Top


The ischial and pubic lengths exhibited statistically significant differences between males and females (P < 0.05) and therefore, have dimorphic potential. However, only the pubic length has the ability for accurate sexing of the bone, as 61.1% in males and 46.5% in females could be identified by demarking point, using the limiting range based on "mean ± 2SD." Ischiopubic index exhibited significant sexual dimorphism (P < 0.05) with very high percentage identified (≥93%) using the demarking points in both sexes, using the limiting range based on "mean ± 2SD and mean ± 3SD." Consequently the ischiopubic index may be of relevance in forensic anthropology, archaeological analyses, and in obstetrics.

Acknowledgements

We appreciate members of the staff of the Department of Radiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital for their cooperation and hospitality.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Sinnatamby CS. Last′s Anatomy: Regional and Applied. 11 th ed. London: Elsevier Limited; 2006. p. 169-73.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Berkovitz BK. Skull and mandible. In: Standring S, Ellis H, Healy JC, Johnson D, Williams A, editors. Gray′s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 39 th ed. London: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005. p. 1419-89.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Oladipo GS, Anugweje KC, Rosemary EO, CU Godwin. Radiologic study of ischiopubic index of Urhobos and Itsekiris of Nigeria. Br J Med Med Res 2015;5:1114-20.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Ekanem T, Udongwu A, Singh S. Radiographic determination of sex differences in ischiopubic index of a Nigerian population. Int J Biol Anthropol 2008;3:1-5.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Oladipo GS, Fawehinmi HB, Okoh PD. Radiologic studies of pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic index of south-south and middle belt Nigerians. J Appl Biosci 2009;23:1451-3.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
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Ekanem TB, Akpan EJ, Mesembe OE. A study of ischiopubic index using x-ray films in Lagos state of Nigeria. Adv Anat 2014;2014:1-4.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Oladipo GS, Anugweje KC. Ischiopubic index of a Nigerian population residing in rivers state. Curr Trends Technol Sci 2014;3:80-5.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
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Osunwoke EA, Olotu EJ, Allison TA, Oriji CN, Mbadugha CC. The discriminant formula for the determination of sex of adults in a Nigerian population (using pelvic radiographs). J Nat Sci Res 2013;3:176-80.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Okoseimiema OC, Udoaka AI. Radiologic determination of ischiopubic index in south-south Nigerian population. Asian J Med Sci 2013;5:96-100.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
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Oladipo GS, Okoh PD, Leko B. Radiologic studies of pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic index of adult Kalabaris and Ikwerres of Nigeria. J Med Med Sci 2012;3:99-102.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Oladipo GS, Okoh PD, Suleiman YA. Radiologic studies of public length, ischial length and ischiopubic index of eastern people of Nigeria. Res J Med Med Sci 2010;5:117-20.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
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Igbigbi PS, Msamati BC. Ischio-pubic index in adult black Malawians. East Afr Med J 2000;77:514-6.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
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Phenice TW. A newly developed visual method of sexing the OS pubis. Am J Phys Anthropol 1969;30:297-301.  Back to cited text no. 13
[PUBMED]    
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Washburn SL. Sex differences in the pubic bone of Bantu and Bushman. Am J Phys Anthropol 1969;7:425-32.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Schultz A, Adolf H. Sex differences in the pelvis of primate. Am J Phy Anthropol 1950;8:401-24.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
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Jit I, Singh S. The sexing of the adult clavicles. Indian J Med Res 1966;54:551-71.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
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Rao CR. In Advanced Statistical Methods in Biometric Research. London: John Wiley Publishers; 1962. p. 291-6.  Back to cited text no. 17
    


    Figures

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    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2]



 

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