CEPHALIC INDEX VARIATION AMONG MALE AND FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE AT ACHIEVERS UNIVERSITY

This study focuses on variations in the cephalic index, which is a dependable measure of head shape and proportions commonly used in fields like anthropometry, forensic science, and clinical practice. Understanding how the cephalic index varies among young adults can offer important baseline information for population-based research. The primary goal of this research was to examine the patterns of cephalic index among male and female undergraduate students at Achievers University. Specifically, it aimed to classify different head types, while also investigating potential differences related to gender and ethnicity. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, involving 80 undergraduate participants evenly split between males and females. The students were selected through simple random sampling. Measurements of head length and head breadth were taken using standardized anthropometric methods. From these measurements, the cephalic index was calculated for each individual. For data analysis, various statistical tests were used, including independent t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc tests, with significance determined at the 0.05 level. The results revealed that the average cephalic index among the participants was 82.65 ± 6.94. Notably, 72.5% of the students were categorized as having brachycephalic head types. When comparing genders, males had significantly larger mean head length and breadth measurements than females. However, the cephalic index itself did not differ significantly between males and females. Additionally, no significant association was found between gender or ethnicity and the distribution of head types. In conclusion, the study found that the brachycephalic head type predominates among undergraduates at Achievers University, with no meaningful gender or ethnic differences in cephalic index proportions. These findings provide valuable baseline data that can support future anthropological and forensic research within the Nigerian population context.