Descriptive Study of the Idoma People and Pattern of Hand Clasping

Abstract

There are millions of people in the world but no two humans are exactly alike not even identical twins. Genetic variations in man are caused by several environmental factors acting alongside with selection, gene flow, genetic drift and migration. Studies have been done on morphogenetic traits such as the pattern of hand clasping in some parts of Africa and among some tribes in southern region of Nigeria but there is no available data on the pattern of hand clasping among the Idoma tribe of Benue State. Hence, this study aimed to determine the pattern of hand clasping among 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 hand clasping pattern. Results and Discussion: The proportion of participants that expressed hand clasping with the left thumb on top was 16.7%, while right thumb on top was 83.3%. There were no significant socio-demographic characteristics among participants (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The study implies that hand clasping with the right thumb on top is a marked characteristic of the people of Idoma and, as such, can be used to identify them amongst other tribes where the identity of the tribes is not known ab initio.