GENDER DETERMINATION USING ROBUSTNESS INDEX OF THE CLAVICLE IN SOUTH-SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST ADULT NIGERIANS

*Benwoke Ihunwo I. W.

ABSTRACT

The clavicle of human body is a long bone placed horizontally. It has two ends, sternal and acromial end and a shaft which is curved with a forward convexity in its medial two third and a forward concavity in its lateral one third. It is one of the bones which is used for gender determination especially in cases were only skeletal remains are available for forensic identification. The gender determination of the individual is a primary criterion of identification but this is a very difficult problem and becomes even more challenging when only a single bone like the clavicle is available. Osteometric indices are determined by applying formulae based on measurements. This study was carried out to assess the accuracy of the robustness index of the clavicle in gender determination in Nigerian population. In the present study the robustness index of the clavicle was calculated from already measured parameters (length and mid- shaft circumference) to determine gender in Nigeria population (40 Nigerian southsouth and south East clavicles 25males and 15 females). Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (IBM version 23) and p-values≤0.05 was considered significant. From the result, mean robustness index of right male clavicle was 25.54±1.99 and left was 24.49±2.45. The mean robustness index of right female clavicle was 22.65±1.22 and left was 22.00±1.28. From the result, the mean of the robustness index was significantly higher in males (p<0.001). Again the RI was higher on the right side for both clavicle for both males and females. Gender can be predicted or determined with a high degree of accuracy, even when only the clavicle is available. This can be very useful in sex determination in cases of explosions, plane crashes, decomposed and mutilated bodies.

Keywords: Clavicle, Gender determination, accuracy, males, females.