Craniofacial Indices as Determinants to Marital Status Among Hausa Women of Kano State Metropolis

This study explores the connection between craniofacial indices and marital status among Hausa women in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria, addressing a critical gap in understanding how physical characteristics influence sociocultural norms in mate selection. Employing a cross-sectional design, we gathered anthropometric measurements and administered questionnaires to 296 participants to assess craniofacial dimensions (including head length, breadth, and facial/nasal indices) and marital outcomes. Descriptive statistics revealed significant variability in craniofacial traits, while regression analysis identified age (β = 0.290, *p* < 0.001) and specific facial types (β = -0.209, *p* < 0.001) as significant predictors of marital status, indicating that older women and those with particular facial types are less likely to be married. The model explained 10.3% of the variance in marital status (*R²* = 0.103), underscoring the moderate influence of physical traits in conjunction with demographic factors like occupation. Cultural emphasis on youth and facial aesthetics emerged as key drivers, consistent with evolutionary theories linking attractiveness to mate selection. While there are limitations to the scope of these findings, the results highlight the complex interplay of biological and sociocultural factors in marital outcomes. This research contributes to the fields of anthropology and sociology by contextualizing craniofacial metrics within the distinctive cultural framework of Hausa women, offering insights that can inform public health and social policy initiatives aimed at addressing marital dynamics in traditional societies. Future studies utilizing diverse samples and longitudinal approaches are recommended to further validate these findings.