Anthropometric Study of Nasal Indices among the Akan People in the Assin Districts of Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Nasal index (NI) may establish racial and ethnic identity and serves as a useful tool in forensic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Previous studies on nasal indices in many races and ethnicities serve as baseline and reference points for forensic and surgical purposes in those populations. However, there is scanty or no data on NI in Ghana including the Akan ethnicity. The study was conducted to provide baseline data on NI among the Akan people in the Assin Districts of the central region of Ghana. Materials and Methods: Four hundred adults between the ages of 20 and 58 years were used. Nasal height (NH) and nasal width (NW) were measured using Vernier caliper. NI computation and statistical analyses such as z-test and Pearson correlation were performed. Results: Mean NI of 91.32 ± 8.66 and 89.39 ± 10.16 were recorded in males and females, respectively, indicating that the predominant nose type in the study population is platyrrhine. There was a strong positive correlation between NH and NW, but there was no sexual dimorphism in NI among the Akan population. Discussion and Conclusion: This study provides a baseline data on NI anthropometry of the Akan people of the Assin Districts and will be a reference point for nasal anthropometry for clinical practice, rhinoplasty, and forensic science.