Interphalangeal Hair Distribution on the Hands and Feet in Relation to Age, Job Type and Gender amongst the Effiks and Ibibios of South Nigeria

The aim of this study was to ascertain the influence of differences in age, job type and gender on distribution of interphalangeal hair of the Effiks in comparism to the Ibibios using 500 subjects comprising 250 Efiks and 250 Ibibios aged 18-40 years. With the aid of a hand lens, the pattern and frequency of hair distribution on the proximal, middle and distal phalanges were examined. Proximal phalangeal hair on the hand was absent in 40 (16%) Efiks and 35 (14%) Ibibios while, hair on the toes was absent in 35 (14%) Efiks and 55 (22%) Ibibios. The highest frequency hair distribution on the hands of the Efiks was 28% on finger pattern 2-3-4 of proximal phalanges while the least was found in finger patterns 1-2, 1-2-3-4, 2-3-5, 2-4-5 and 4-5, having 2% each. For the toes, the highest frequency hair distribution was 26% on toe pattern 1-2-3-4 while the least was 2% on toe patterns 1-3-4 and 1-4. The highest frequency hair distribution on the hands of the Ibibios was 30% on finger pattern 2-3-4 on proximal phalanges while the least was 2% in finger patterns 2-3, 3, 3-4-5 and 4-5. For their toes, the highest frequency hair distribution was 22% in toe pattern 1-2-3-4-5 and least frequent in toe patterns 1-2, 2, 2-3 and 3 with 2% each. Middle phalangeal hair was present in only one subject (a male Ibibio) of the entire population. Hair was absent on the distal phalanges. Age was not a factor in the distribution but individual’s sex and job type had effect on hair distribution on the phalanges.