Cross-Sectional Study of Hairline Shape among the Idoma People of Benue State, Nigeria

Introduction: There are certain basic facial features such as the hairline shape, which is a prominent feature on the forehead, that are considered to be morphogenetic and useful anthropologically in identifying individuals, family ties, and differentiating tribes or races from each other. The pattern of the curved hairline is also referred to as the "widow's peak." The hairline shape can be broadly classified as being straight or curved (widow's peak) in shape. People with curved hairlines (widow's peaks) have prominent v-shaped hairlines; this structure can be used as a distinguishing characteristic of a people, or tribe, in anthropology. The dearth of information on the pattern of hairline shape informed the study on the Idoma people of Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was community-based, descriptive, and cross-sectional with a sample size of 401. Data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire that was administered by an interviewer following an examination of the hairline shape. Results and Discussion: The distribution of hairline shape amongst the participants was thus: curved 267 (66.6%), and straight 134 (33.4%). There were no significant socio-demographic characteristics among participants (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The study indicated that 2 in 3 people in the population have a curved hairline. While about a third of the sampled population had a straight hairline. The distribution of hairline shape with respect to gender showed the curved hairline shape was predominant over the straight in both genders. The ratio of curved to straight hairlines (2:1) was seen in both genders. The most plausible explanation for the common occurrence of a curved hairline over a straight one could be genetic input.