Body Sizes of Ghanaian Female Students of the University of Ghana, Legon

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to classify the Ghanaian female figure into body sizes. A proportionate sample of 313 Ghanaian female students from the University of Ghana, Legon selected from four age strata were the respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS/PC) software was used to analyse the background information, perceived figure types, and figure preferences. The Combination Statistic was used to categorise body measurements to obtain the respondents body sizes. Bust less waist, hip less waist and hip less bust measurements were calculated and compared with those of the Caucasians’ as reported by the Simplicity Pattern Company (1976). The chi-square statistic was used to test the relationship between age and body sizes while the Mean, Standard Deviation and Standard Error of Difference were computed to test the hypothesis that there would be no significant differences in the Hip less Bust, Bust less Waist and Hip less Waist measurements among the various age groups of the respondents. The respondents were within the age range of 18 years to 40 years and above with majority within 21-29 years (72.2%). The figure type they preferred was the mesomorphic type (87.8%). Nine body sizes, which were labelled, for the purpose of this study, as Smallish, Short-plump, Mayfair, Medium-cute, Medium-lady, Cutemum, Allslim, Tall-Graceful and Tall-Heavy, by the researcher and with corresponding measurements were identified. The figures the respondents perceived of themselves were however different from the findings of the study. With the standards set by the Simplicity Pattern Company (1976), 13.8% of the respondents conformed to the Hip-les-bust; 32.6% for Bust-less-waist while the Hipless- waist recorded 38.0%.The Standard Error of Difference indicated that there was a significant difference between the age groups 18-20 years and 40 years and above on one hand and between the age groups 30-39 years and 40 years and above in the Hip less Bust measurements. There were also significant differences between the age groups 18-20 years and 40 years and above in the Bust less Waist measurements. The Standard Error Difference for the Hip less Waist measurements also indicated that significant differences existed between the age groups 18-20 years and 21-29 years; 1820 years and 30-30 years; 21-29 years and 40 years and above and 30-39 years and 40 years and above. The chi-square statistic revealed that there was a significant difference between body size and age at 5% level of significance. This is a pilot study and the findings are therefore limited to female students of the University of Ghana students at Legon and cannot be generalised to cover all Ghanaians. It is suggested that further studies be done, taking a representative sample of Ghanaians in different age strata, occupation and marital status, among others. This may help to obtain body sizes that can be used as standards for the Ghanaian figure.