“CORRELATION AND REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF STATURE IN RELATION TO HEAD LENGTH IN SCHOOL CHILDREN OF GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH”
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Keywords
Stature estimation, head length, paediatric anthropometry, regression analysis, cranio-somatic correlation, Ghaziabad.
Abstract
Background:Anthropometric parameters such as stature and cranial dimensions are essentialindicators of growth patterns in children and hold practical importance in paediatrics, anthropology,and forensic science. While cranial measurements are often used to estimate stature in adults, theirpredictive utility in children—especially within regional Indian populations—remains inadequatelyexplored. Objectives: To evaluate sex differences in stature and head length among school-agedchildren in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and to determine the correlation and regression relationshipbetween these two anthropometric parameters.
Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 children (170 boys and 130 girls) of grade6, aged 10–13years (Maharishi Dayanand Vidyapeeth, Ghaziabad). Stature and head length weremeasured using standardized anthropometric techniques. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests,Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression were performed. A pvalue < 0.05 was consideredstatistically significant.
Results:Boys exhibited significantly higher mean stature (130.22 ± 8.19 cm) and head length (16.06± 0.72 cm) compared with girls (128.26 ± 5.89 cm) and (15.35 ± 0.88 cm) respectively.Astatisticallysignificant difference in mean stature was observed between boys and girls (t = 2.31, p = 0.0216), Incontrast, head length demonstrated a highly significant sex-based difference (t = 7.68, p < 0.0001).Pearson’s correlation analysis revealeda weak but statistically significant positive associationbetweenstature and head length in boys (r = 0.27), girls (r = 0.33), and the combined sample (r =0.30). Regression analysis yielded the equation: Stature = 94.27 + 2.31(Head Length), with an R²value of 0.090, indicating limited predictive power.Conclusion:Although boys demonstrated greaterstature and head length than girls, head length showed only a weak correlation with stature in thispaediatric population. The regression model, while statistically significant, offers limited accuracyfor stature estimationin children aged 10–13 years. The study provides important region-specificanthropometric data for Ghaziabad and highlights the need for multiparameter models andlongitudinal research to improve predictive capability in paediatric anthropometry.
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Dr Anant Kumar
Assistant Professor, Anatomy, G S Medical College & Hospital, Hapur
Dr Sonali Kataria
Assistant Professor, Anatomy, G S Medical College & Hospital, Hapur
Dr Vanita Gupta
HOD & Professor, Anatomy, G S Medical College & Hospital, Hapur
