Linear and multiple logistic regression analysis of hand measurements of adolescent boys and girls of Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) for sex determination: A forensic-anthropological study

Abstract

To establish biological profile of an unknown person is important to narrow down the possibility of identification in forensic  anthropological contexts in absence of any other concrete evidence. Present study was designed to collect baseline anthropometric  data and established models for sex determination among Ladakh adolescents. Different hands parameters were recorded on 229  adolescents (129) boys and (77) girls age between 14-19 years using standard techniques and instruments. All the subjects were right handed. Different hands parameters were measured by using sliding callipers. Statistically significant differences were observed  between all hand measurements of boys and girls (p<0.001). Male hand dimensions were found larger than the girls. Left hand breadth  was found the highest sex predictor variable in linear logistic regression analysis to accurately determine sex of (90%) boy's subjects to  their biological sex category whereas right hand breadth accurately predicted sex of (76.2%) girls. Left hand breadth and left hand  breadth accurately determines (90.7%) boys and (79.2%) girls, respectively by multiple logistic regression. This study is population  specific and useful for forensic and medico-legal experts in formulating biological profile of unknown person.