Aims: To measure the nose of the Hausa and Yoruba ethnic groups in Nigeria and to compare same with
other ethnic groups. The working hypothesis is that the two ethnic groups wil have the same nose type
since they share same environmental conditons.
Study design: This was a prospective study involving students from two schols in Kano, Nigeria.
Place and Duration of Study: Goron Dutse Secondary Schol in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano
State and Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. The study started from September 205 to November 208. Methodology: Five hundred and eighty two (582) subjects (both parents and 2 grandparents) purely
Hausa or Yoruba, were randomly selected. They included 385 Hausa and 197 Yoruba ethnic groups. The
nose height and breadth of each participant were measured in each subject using a sliding vernier caliper
and the nasal index for each was calculated using the formula Nasal breadth/Nasal height X10. The
data were analyzed using Minitab 16 software and Two-Sample T-Test was conducted to find out whether
there is a statisticaly signifcant mean diference betwen sexes within a group and betwen same sexes
betwen the two groups. The P value of .05 or les was considered statisticaly signifcant otherwise
insignifcant if more than. Results: The mean nasal index for the Hausa ethnic group males was found to be 70.7 ± 1.3 which is
greater than that of their females’ counterpart that was 67.2 ± 8.3. The Yoruba mean male nasal index
was 10.9 ± 8.9 also greater than that of the Yoruba females which was 94.1 ± 8. The mean nasal index
of the Hausa males as compared to the nasal index of the Yoruba males, showed statisticaly signifcant
diference (P<.01). The same statisticaly signifcant diference betwen the nasal indices of both Hausa
and Yoruba females was also found (P<.01)
Conclusion: Both ethnic groups (Hausa and Yoruba) do not have the same nasal index and therefore
not the same nose type with a sexual dimorphism existing in both ethnic groups. In this study, we were
able to establish nasal index apropriate for this ethnic group and may be useful as a reference data to
the plastic surgeons and other clinicians.