Stature Prediction using Shoe Print Dimensions of an Adult Nigerian Population

Abstract

This study aimed to derive predictive equations for stature estimation using shoe print dimensions of adult Nigerian medical students in the University of Lagos. A sample of 230 volunteers (100 males and 130 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18 – 36 years comprised this cross-sectional study. Stature and 460 bi-lateral shoe prints were obtained from the participants using a stadiometer and ink pads. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Sexual dimorphism in stature and shoe print dimensions were found to be highly significant (p < 0.05), with the males having greater values than the females. Paired t test revealed statistically significant bi-lateral differences in shoe print dimensions for the females and the pooled sample (p < 0.05). The right shoe print length (RSPL) exhibited the highest correlation with stature in the males, females and the pooled sample, with values of 0.483, 0.607 and 0.772, respectively. The shoe print breadths in the males, females and the pooled sample were significantly correlated with stature, except the left shoe print breadth (LSPB) in the females (r = 0.148). This study has demonstrated that shoe print dimensions are significantly correlated with stature, with the shoe print length showing more reliability in stature prediction than the shoe print breadth.

Keywords

• forensic sciences
• forensic anthropology
• stature
• shoe prints
• correlation