Prevalence of simian and Sydney creases in the Ijaws of South- South Nigeria

Abstract

Simian, and Sydney creases are anomalous palmar crease that had generated medical attention as their presence correlate strongly with several human chromosomal abnormalities and diseases. Works on these creases have been done on several human populations; racial and ethnic, but no specific documented study had singled out the Ijaws of SouthSouth Nigeria in respect to these palmar creases aberration. This study was to determine the prevalence of simian and Sydney creases in apparently normal individual of the Ijaw ethnicity of SouthSouth Nigeria and to compare it with known population prevalence. Five hundred and seven subjects of Ijaw origin were randomly selected. Subjects palms were physically inspected for simian and / or Sydney crease. Observations were categorised into gender and right / left palm(s). Relationship between creases, gender and right or left palm was assessed by Fisher's exact test. Results shows that the prevalence of male with simian crease in the male population and in the entire population was 3.98% and 1.77% respectively, while that for female were 4.27% and 2.37%. Sexual predilection was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Subject in the study population with simian crease is 4.14%. Sydney crease was uncommon, it occurred in 0.19% of individuals. Values in the Ijaws of SouthSouth Nigeria were generally lower than those of the Orient and higher than those of the Caucasians. Confirming that physical anthropology trait varies amongst populations.