Estimation of stature from hand dimensions among adult Rajbanshi individuals of Eastern India

Estimation of stature from hand dimensions among adults is of great importance in establishing identity and individuality. The primary objective of the present study was to estimate stature from hand length and hand breadth among Rajbanshi adults of eastern India. The data for the present study were obtained from 400 unrelated (males: 200; females: 200) adult Rajbanshi individuals (aged between 20 years to 60 years). The data obtained was statistically analyzed using statistical tests which included descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Linear and step-wise multiple regression equations were formulated. The results show that mean value of stature and hand length (HL), and breadth (HB) of males were higher than of females. The F-values were statistically significant for HL, left hand length (LHL) and right-hand length (RHL) (p<0.05). The bilateral difference in HL and HB were observed to be statistically not significant in both sexes (p>0.05). Simple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate stature from the anthropometric variables. The regression coefficients were observed to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The stepwise multiple regression equations were also observed to be statistically significant. The present study has been successful in estimating stature from LHL, RHL, LHB and RHB. It has also observed the relationships between these anthropometric measures as well as estimated bilateral differences and sex differences with respect to these variables. The results may be used for estimating the stature from hand dimensions in medico-legal cases and forensic examinations.