ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY ON HAND AND ITS DIGITAL PRINTS FOR DETERMINATION OF SEX IN AN EGYPTIAN POPULATION SAMPLE

Kotb, Nadia; Abul-Nasr, Saied; Ali, Mona M; Nada, Fatma

doi:10.21608/ejfsat.2016.41033

ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY ON HAND AND ITS DIGITAL PRINTS FOR DETERMINATION OF SEX IN AN EGYPTIAN POPULATION SAMPLE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, Cairo University

10.21608/ejfsat.2016.41033

Abstract

Background: Positive identification of the deceased is one of the main aims in any forensic medicolegal investigation. This is extremely difficult when collection of bones or dismembered remains is brought for examination. In these situations, the primary aim of investigation is to determine the age, sex, race and physical features. So as to eliminate these difficulties, new methods are being developed. The aim of this study: is to develop formulae for determination of the sex through hand measurements and digital print parameters and compare the accuracy of both methods. Material and methods: the hand (length and width), palm length and the four digit length measurements of the right hand were taken from right hand of the 160 adults (80 males and 80 females) and from their digital prints. Results of the study showed that males had larger hand dimensions than females in both anthropometric and print measures. .To determine sex from hand measures and digital print parameters in both groups, a logistic regression was done to create regression equation. The accuracy of sex determination by this equation was very high reaching 79. %. Conclusion: Formulae were obtained by the logistic regression analysis for from both anthropometric measures and digital print parameters showing higher accuracy for anthropometric method. Recommendations: using the anthropometric measurements in determination of sex from hand as the print method is less accurate, future research works are required to increase the accuracy of print method.

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