Comparative analysis of anthropometric data of Hausas in northern and southern Nigeria

Abstract

The article aims at obtaining some anthropometric dimensions of Hausa tribes living in both the northern and southern part of Nigeria for the usage of designers of furniture and work stations. Samples of 216 volunteered participants were randomly selected for the study with age range of 16 and 35 years. Sixteen (16) anthropometric dimensions were taken. The descriptive statistical analysis of mean, standard deviations, minimum values, maximum values, 1st, 5th, 50th, 90th, 95th and 99th percentiles were obtained using SPSS 16.0 statistical package. However, ten selected anthropometric dimensions for T-Test was conducted on the measurements for comparison of all the participants from the north and south; on male participants from north and the south; and on female participants from north and south, at 0.05 level of significance. Most especially for the females, the results showed that there were significant differences in the height, overhead reach, arm span, sitting height, knee height and head length between the Hausa females living in the north and south. Hence, there is the need to design equipment and workplaces which must take into consideration data of the proposed users.