Palmar and digital dermatoglyphic patterns in Malawian subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To establish palmar and digital dermatoglyphic patterns.

DESIGN

Cross sectional study of randomly selected black Malawian subjects.

SETTING

Chichiri Secondary School and College of Medicine in Blantyre, Malawi.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Total finger ridge count (TFRC), atd angle, a-b ridge counts, pattern intensity index (PII) and the variability of ridge patterns were determined.

RESULTS

Arches were the most predominant digital pattern in both sexes, followed by radial loops in males and whorls in females. The sex differences between these digital patterns were not statistically significant and palmar patterns did not show sexual dimorphism. Females had significantly higher TFRC than males (p < 0.001) while males showed higher mean PII values than females. Females also had significantly higher atd angle than males while males had significantly higher a-b ridge counts than females (p < 0.001). The TFRC, atd angle and a-b ridges count were significantly higher in Nigerians than Malawians (p < 0.001). The mean PII was also higher in Nigerians than in Malawians.

CONCLUSION

For the first time the normal dermatoglyphic patterns of Malawians was established.