EVALUATION OF SECOND AND FOURTH DIGIT RATIO, ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS AND AGGRESSION AMONG STARTISANS AND NON-ARTISANS

(A CASE STUDY OF ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA)

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Author

Presented To

Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
A growing body of literature, has associated exposure to prenatal testosterone, to the length second to fourth digit ratios (2D:4D) and this have been linked to several biological traits e.g. fertility, birth weight, cognitive abilities and psychopathology etc. This study was aimed at evaluating the 2D:4D and 2D:4D and aggressionamongst artisans, non-artisansin Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted and a total of 700 subjects participated in this study, 548 subjects from different artisan groups and 152 subjects from non-artisan groups respectively. The artisanswere mainly labour workers between the age ranges of 18-65 years while the non-artisans are mainly students between age ranges of 18-56years.Anthropometric measurements were obtained using stadiometer and weighing scale, standard measuring tape, digital vernier caliper, anthropometric variables such as height, weight, finger length, humeral length, foot length and hand length were measured.The study revealed statistical difference in the variables between artisans and non-artisans except in right finger I and III, right 2D:4D ratio, left finger I, III and III, left 2D:4D ratio,hand length and hand breadth.When artisans were categories according to their trade (auto-mechanics, bricklayers, tailors and carpenters) artisans showed various degree of significant difference within the groups and with the non-artisans. The regression equations derived for bothartisans and non-artisan groups separately using height, weight and body mass index (BMI)by means of which these variablescan be accurately estimated using 2D:4D ratio when such body parts are recovered. Relationships between 2D:4D and different scale of aggressions have been established. The linear regression equations for the association of right and left 2D:4D and anger aggression in overall artisan and non-artisan groups is given as Anger = 28.026 - (10.172 * R2D:4D) (R = 0.176,R2= 0.0311, SEE 2.148, P=0.001) and Anger = 28.923 - (11.060 * L2D:4D),R = 0.173, R2= 0.0300, SEE 2.384, P=0.001respectively. The present study showed significant (p< 0.001) negative relationship between 2D:4D and all forms of aggression. In conclusion right and left 2D:4D ratio could be applied for estimations of height, weight, BMI and forms of aggression in artisans and non-artisan groups of Kaduna state. Also differences of 2D:4D ratio estimation between the different groups of artisans and non-artisans has been established in this study, indicating population specificity in 2D:4D ratio based on occupation in Kaduna state, Nigeria.