Determination of sex and race from the subpubic angle in Ugandan subjects

The accurate determination of sex and race are important tools to forensic and physical anthropologists. In this study, the sex and race of 205 adult Ugandans were determined from the antero-posterior radiographs of the pelvis by measuring their subpubic angles. The angle ranged from 50 to 140 degrees with a mean of 93.86 degrees and standard deviation (SD) of 21.12 degrees for males and 75 to 155 degrees with a mean of 116.11 degrees (SD, 17.79 degrees) for females. The angle was significantly wider in women than men (P < 0.05), as indeed has previously been shown in other population groups studied. Using the demarking point method, 31.82% of Ugandan men and 10.53% of Ugandan women could be accurately sexed. However, more Malawians of both sexes previously studied had lower values for the angle and could be more accurately sexed. This study has also documented regional and racial variability of this angle among different population groups previously documented. Using the watershed subpubic angle derived from the means of this study and those of previously documented studies, 63% of Ugandans and 71% of Malawians could be accurately assigned to the black race. This method is recommended to physical and forensic anthropologists in the developing world.