Anthropometric study using craniofacial features to determine gender in Lucknow population

BACKGROUND: Gender is one of the main characteristics analyzed for positive human identification in forensic medicine. The methods involving physical anthropology present high rate of accuracy for human identification and gender estimation. AIM: This study aimed to determine gender through different craniofacial variables using physical anthropometric methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 individuals (50 males and 50 females) in Lucknow. Variables studied through physical anthropometry in both the genders were facial height, nasion-to-menton distance, interzygomatic arch width, and intercanthal width using a digital sliding caliper. All the measurements were taken twice. The final value was the average of the two obtained values. RESULTS: Comparing the mean craniofacial features between two genders, t-test revealed significantly higher facial height, pronasale-to-menton distance, and interzygomatic width in males as compared to females, but the mean intercanthal width was found to be the same. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between facial height and pronasale-to-menton distance, facial height and interzygomatic width, pronasale-to-menton distance and interzygomatic width, and interzygomatic width and intercanthal width. CONCLUSION: The craniofacial features may serve as diagnostic markers for gender identification and can be used interchangeably.