The Prevalence of Pes Planus Among Yorubas of the Southwest of Nigeria – A Pilot Study

Abstract

A total of 207 Yorubas of Nigeria comprising of 115 males and 92 males volunteered for the study. All volunteers involved in the study had no deformities or previous fractures of the lower extremities’ especially of the foot. They were aged between 13 and 32 years. For each volunteer, bilateral plantar prints were obtained using the ink procedure method. All prints were counted, separated into sexes and the incidence of flat footedness calculated for both sexes. Employing the visual method as a predictor of pes planus, 34 individuals were bilaterally flatfooted comprising of 17 males and 17 females. The overall prevalence of pes planus was found to be 10.8%; with a prevalence of 14.8% amongst males and 18.5% amongst females. Overall prevalence was found to be more than those of other African populations earlier studied i.e Port-Harcourt (2.88%) andUganda(3.88%). When the footprint ratio or arch index method was employed, 115 individuals were bilaterally flat arched (flatfooted), comprising of 98 males and 87 females. The prevalence of pes planus was found to be 65.22% amongst males and 94.60% amongst females. The overall prevalence of pes planus using footprint ratio was 89.37%, which was more than that of any other population earlier reported employing same method i.eKenya43.1% andUSA(25%). No study inNigeriahas earlier employed the footprint ratio as a predictor of pes planus. Further studies should be carried out among other tribes inNigeriausing the visual, planimeter and footprint ratio methods.