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

Abstract

Aim: To characterize the lip print pattern in a study population and to ascertain its potential for sex determination. Material 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.

Considering the lip print patterns of Ibo and Hausa Ethnic groups of Nigeria: checking the wave of ethnically driven terrorism

“…There was a significant difference between lip height and width in both sex and ethnic groups. It was in line with the studies of Ezemagu et al ( 2018 ) and Okeke et al ( 2020 ) who reported a gender difference in the lip print pattern among Ikwo students and Ibo in Anambra State respectively. The findings reveal sexual dimorphism in lip and suggested that ethnicity of an individual can be identified, using lip print.…”

“…The logistic regression reveals that anthropometric parameters could not predict the lip print patterns. Similarly, Ezemagu et al ( 2018 ); Okeke et al ( 2020 ) and Nagrale et al ( 2014 ) suggested that lip print of an individual does not depend on his/her anthropometric features, environment, climatic condition and agricultural activities, and that it remains permanent once formed. However, the heterogeneity of major sub-population of Nigeria; Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba, and inter-tribal marriage and bridge cultural practices could have affected the genetic and phenotypic constitutions of the general population.…”

“…Furthermore, the study of Ezemagu et al ( 2018 ) revealed that Type I’ is the most predominant lip print pattern among male Ibo students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, and Okeke et al ( 2020 ) also reported Type IV (28.5%) and Type II (40.0%) as predominant types in male and female Ibo in Anambra state. The results indicate that lip print patterns of Ibo population are inconsistent, which underscores its relevance in personal identification and forensic investigation of criminals in Nigeria.…”

Medicolegal Importance of Sex Determination with the Help of Lip Prints: Cheiloscopy

“…The lip prints can therefore be used which can easily be registered on utensils a study conducted in 2019 by Fonseca GM, Ortíz-Contreras J, Ramírez-Lagos C, López-Lázaro S and another study conducted by Kanokwongnuwut P, Kirkbride KP, Linacre A in 2019 is in favor of present study (11,15),. Lip prints could be a valuable evidence in a vast criminology cases, such as in asphyxial cases of gagging , lip prints on a drinking glass or cigarette butts a study conducted in 2021 by Khanagar SB, Vishwanathaiah S, Naik S, Al-Kheraif AA, Divakar DD, Sarode SC, et al about use of artificial intelligence for identification is in favor of this study (16),. For crime scene investigation lip prints could be retrieved from these possible places.…”