Objective: This study aimed to determine the anthropometric ratios of index and ring fingers in students with and without intellectual disability in order to help the early diagnosis of this condition. Method: The distance between the tip of the fingers to the last phalanges was measured with a digital caliper in 180 students with and without intellectual disability belonging to age groups of 7-8, 8-9, and 9-10 years, residing in Zabul, Iran. Data were analyzed in SPSS, Minitab, and Microsoft Excel. Statistical tests comprised the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Levene’s test, and independent samples t-test. Mean, standard error, and histograms were used to describe the data. The two groups were compared in terms of mean data and the ratio of the length of second to fourth fingers (2D:4D). Results: In all three age groups, the mean anthropometric length of the index finger (2D) of the students with intellectual disability was shorter than that of other boys, which was statistically significant only in the age group of 9-10 years (p≤0.05). In the age groups of 8-9 and 9-10 years, the mean anthropometric length of the left ring finger (D4) of students with intellectual disability was significantly shorter than that of other boys (p≤0.05). There was no significant difference among the three age groups of students with and without intellectual disability in terms of the mean ratio of left-hand index to ring fingers (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings, the noted comparisons can serve as a prognostic factor.
Tehranipour M, VatanshenasMehrbakhsh M. Anthropometric Study of the Ratio of Left-Hand Index Finger to Ring Finger (2D:4D) among Sistani Boys with and without Intellectual Disability Aged 7 to 10 Years in Zabul, Iran
. JOEC 2018; 17 (3) :63-72 URL: http://joec.ir/article-1-556-en.html