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Corresponding Author

Opeyemi Abel Bamgbose

Authors ORCID

Olukayode Olushola Odubela: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3451-4491

Osonuga Ifabunmi Oduyemi: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5976-8901

Dr Kazeem Adeyinka Adeboyejo: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-7952

Opeyemi Abel Bamgbose: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9910-1488

Abstract

Background: Dermatoglyphic minutiae are permanent epidermal ridge characteristics widely utilized in forensic identification and biometric science. Previous studies have demonstrated sex-related differences in fingerprint ridge morphology and ridge count, with females generally exhibiting higher ridge count than males. However, quantitative minutiae-based studies among Nigerian adolescents remain limited. This study evaluated sex-related and bilateral variations in fingerprint minutiae among secondary school students in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study involved 300 apparently healthy students aged 14–18 years, recruited from an initial pool of 318 students assessed for eligibility across Batoro Community Grammar School, Remo Secondary School, and Remo Methodist High School. The final sample comprised 150 males and 150 females, with each school contributing 50 males and 50 females. Fingerprints were acquired using a 1000 ppi optical biometric scanner under standardized conditions, yielding 3,000 analyzed fingerprint images (10 digits × 300 participants). Ten fingerprint minutiae characteristics were extracted and independently verified by two trained examiners blinded to participant sex and school. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's kappa statistics. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests with Cohen's d effect sizes, chi-square analysis, and mixed-effects regression models. Results: Bifurcation was the predominant minutiae characteristic, accounting for 35.3% of all identified patterns. Females demonstrated significantly higher extracted minutiae counts under the present acquisition conditions than males (126.4 ± 2.8 vs 117.1 ± 2.5 [mean ± SEM]; t = –2.91, p = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.34, indicating a small-to-moderate effect). Left-hand digits also showed slightly greater total minutiae counts than right-hand digits (p = 0.031, d = 0.25). Reliability analysis demonstrated excellent reproducibility (ICC = 0.92, 95% CI [0.88, 0.95]; Cohen's kappa = 0.90, 95% CI [0.84, 0.96]). Conclusion: Significant sex-related and bilateral variations exist in fingerprint minutiae characteristics among Nigerian adolescents, supporting the forensic relevance of dermatoglyphic analysis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.70176/3007-973X.1075

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