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Plantar and digital dermatoglyphics in Malawi.

OBJECTIVE
To establish plantar and digital dermatoglyphic patterns.


DESIGN
Cross sectional study of randomly selected Black Malawian subjects.


SETTING
Able-bodied indigenous Black subjects were recruited from secondary schools and the College of Medicine in Blantyre city.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Dankmeijer's index (DI) and the pattern intensity (PII) indices were determined and the variability of ridge patterns were counted and classified.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bilateral plantar and digital prints of the sole of selected subjects were recorded, studied and classified.


RESULTS
Arches were the most predominant ridge pattern found on the digits. Whorls were absent on all digits, a feature which appears to be peculiar to Malawians. Loops were also absent on the small digit but present on the big toe. These were significantly greater in males than females (p < 0.05). The PII was higher in males than females while, DI was higher in females than in males. These indices were significantly different from similar values obtained from previous studies of two ethnic groups in Nigeria (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSION
This study has provided the normal dermatoglyphic patterns of Malawian subjects and also highlighted that digital patterns are more specific in differentiating tribes and population groups.