The Study of Sexual Dimorphism in Lip Print Patterns Among Igbos in Anambra State of Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Journal of advanced oral research 2020-11, Vol.11 (2), p.240-244
• Main Authors: Okeke, Chijioke Mmadueke, Ann, Onyechege, Ukoha, Ukoha Ukoha, Dimkpa, Uchechukwu, Enemuo, Ijeoma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2320-2068; 2320-2076
• DOI: 10.1177/2320206820919668

Aim: To characterize the lip print pattern in a study population and to ascertain its potential for sex determination. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 undergraduate students (144 males and 156 females). Simple random sampling was used. Lip prints were obtained with lipstick and were classified according to Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The prevalence of lip print patterns was presented as frequencies and percentages, and the test of significance of gender difference was done with chi-square at the 95 percent confidence interval. Result: No two lip print patterns were found to be the same. There was a significant difference in the lip print patterns of females and males. In females, the pattern with the highest frequency was type II (40.4%). This was followed by type I (36.5%), type III (13.5%), type V (7.1%), and type IV (2.6%). In males, the pattern with the highest frequency was type IV (28.5%). This was followed by type III (26.4%), types I and V (each 16.0%), and type II (13.2%). When both sexes were considered together, type II was the most frequent pattern. Conclusion: Lip print is unique to individuals and it has potential for sex determination. The most prevalent patterns in females and males were type II and type IV, respectively.