title: An anthropometric study of facial height among four endogamous communities in the Sunsari district of Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial anthropometry has well-known implications in health-related fields and has been utilised for forensic purposes in the past. It provides an indication of the variations in facial shape in a population. The facial anthropometric profile of a population can characterise the distinctive features of a likely face in that population. The present study aimed to examine the differences in facial height proportions and facial growth patterns in different communities in the Sunsari district of Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  The upper facial height (UFH) and lower facial height (LFH) proportions of 857 subjects (429 male and 428 female) aged between three and 18 years old from four communities (Brahmin, Chhetri, Rai and Limbu) in the Sunsari district of Nepal were calculated, and comparisons were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences (p is less than 0.05) in the UFH and LFH percentages were observed between the Brahmin and Rai, Brahmin and Limbu, Chhetri and Rai, and Chhetri and Limbu communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concluded that there is evidence of statistically significant differences of the upper and lower face height proportions among the different racial groups. A change in the facial height proportions of the various age groups was evident. However, differences in facial height proportions between male and female were found to be insignificant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, PO Box 155, Nepal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baral
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krishan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hiremath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009390:Nepal; D012016:Reference Values; D012067:Religion; D012111:Residence Characteristics