Stature estimation from craniofacial anthropometry in Bangladeshi Garo adult females.

Estimation of stature is an important tool in forensic examination especially in unknown, highly decomposed, fragmentary and mutilated human remains. When the evidences are skeletal remains; forensic anthropology has put forward means to estimate the stature from the skeletal and even from fragmentary bones. Sometimes, craniofacial remains are brought in for forensic and postmortem examination. In such a situation, estimation of stature becomes equally important along with other parameters like age, sex, race, etc. Today, anthropometry plays an important role in industrial design, clothing design, ergonomics and architecture where statistical data about the distribution of body dimensions in the population are used to optimize products. It is well established that a single standard of craniofacial aesthetics is not appropriate for application to diverse racial and ethnic groups. Bangladesh is a country not only for the Bengalis; the country harbours many cultures and people of different races because of the colonial rules of the past regimes. Like other ethnic groups, the Garos (study subjects) have their own set of language, social structure, cultures and economic activities and religious values. In the above context, the present study was attempted to establish ethnic specific anthropometric data for the Bangladeshi Garo adult females. The study also attempted to find out the correlation of the craniofacial dimensions with stature and to determine multiplication factors. The study was an observational, cross-sectional and primarily descriptive in nature with some analytical components. The study was carried out with a total number of one hundred Garo adult females, aged between 25-45 years. Craniofacial dimension such as head circumference, head length, facial height from 'nasion' to 'gnathion', bizygomatic breadth and stature were measured using a measuring tape, spreading caliper, steel plate and steel tape and sliding caliper. The data were then statistically analyzed by computation to find out its normatic value. Study was also aimed to observe the possible correlation of them with the stature. Multiplication factors were estimated for estimating stature and comparison were made between 'estimated' values with the 'measured' values by using 't' test. The mean±SD of the head length, head circumference, facial height from 'nasion' to 'gnathion', bizygomatic breadth were 17.49±0.58cm, 51.56±1.49cm, 10.65±0.40cm, 13.47±0.52cm respectively and The mean±SD of the stature was 152.79±5.62cm. Head circumference showed significant positive correlation with stature (r=0.278 and p= 0.005) but head length (r= -0.029 and p=0.774), bizygomatic breadth (r= 0.143 & p=0.156) and facial height from 'nasion' to 'gnathion' (r=00.023 and p=0.818) did not reach statistically significant level with stature. No significant difference was found between the 'measured' and 'estimated' stature for head circumference, head length, bizygomatic breadth and facial height from 'nasion' to 'gnathion'.