Abstract:
Fingerprinting is one of the oldest and most reliable biometric tools taken as legitimate proof
of identification of an individual. Gender, ethnicity, and familial relationship are used as tools
of individual identity and their associations with fingerprint patterns have been demonstrated
in previous studies but were inconsistent. The objective of this study was to describe the
distribution of fingerprint patterns in a population in Western Kenya. The specific objectives
were to determine the associations between fingerprint patterns and sub-patterns with fingers,
gender, ethnic group, and sibling status in a population. In a cross-sectional observation
study, a total of 240 study participants were recruited via a clustered sampling technique.
Demographic information was collected using a questionnaire. Fingerprints were collected
using fingerprint ink pad and classified according to Henry’s classification system. The
association of fingerprint patterns with fingers, gender, ethnic groups and relationship status
was determined using the chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at P≤0.05. The
frequency of arch, composite, loop, and whorl patterns was comparable across the five
fingers as well as between gender and ethnic groups for both the right and left arms (P>0.05).
However, there was significant variation in the frequency of arch, composite, loop, and whorl
fingerprint patterns for all the fingers between siblings and non-siblings (P<0.05). The ulnar
loop was found to be the most occurring fingerprint sub-pattern across the five fingers,
between the gender and ethnic group as well as between sibling and non-siblings. Plain
whorl, radial loop, plain arch, tented arch, central pocket whorl, double whorl, loop arch
composite and whorl arch composite followed respectively. There is similarity in fingerprint
patterns across the fingers as well as between gender and ethnic groups but not siblings andnon-siblings between the Bukusu and the Kabras western Kenya. Therefore, fingerprint
patterns may not be used to discriminate fingers, gender, and ethnic groups but can be used as
a tool to distinguish between siblings and non-siblings in the population.
