Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population
The applicability of Greulich and Pyle atlas for estimating age for court cases that require age estimation amongst the Botswana population is often questioned because the atlas has been adopted without being evaluated for Botswana. It has long been established that accuracies of such age estimation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000075 |
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| author | Baraedi Olaotse Phokedi Gothatamang Norma Panzirah-Mabaka Kaone Mosothwane Morongwa Mokgadi Janes Kemiso Kabo Mugoma Shathani Patlakwe Thato |
| author_facet | Baraedi Olaotse Phokedi Gothatamang Norma Panzirah-Mabaka Kaone Mosothwane Morongwa Mokgadi Janes Kemiso Kabo Mugoma Shathani Patlakwe Thato |
| author_sort | Baraedi Olaotse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The applicability of Greulich and Pyle atlas for estimating age for court cases that require age estimation amongst the Botswana population is often questioned because the atlas has been adopted without being evaluated for Botswana. It has long been established that accuracies of such age estimation methods are dependent on different factors such as the general health and nutrition of the population. We present a study aimed at determining the level of accuracy of the Greulich and Pyle atlas at estimating age for the Botswana population. It is the first time that this type of study is being performed for Botswana. The results will be used to confirm if there is need to develop specific age estimation standards for Botswana. A total of 140 x-ray image samples were obtained from local hospitals for patients aged between 5 and 18 years. The sample images were compared with the Greulich and Pyle age estimation standards. In forensic age estimations, there are several important age limits which are considered. The legal age of maturity for Botswana is 18 years. This age limit is very important in determining whether offenders should be tried as children or adults and at the same time, in determining if victims are minors or adults. It also forms the basis for sentencing of offenders for crimes committed against children. For the important age group 15 ≤ 18 the mean skeletal age difference was found to be 0.94 (statistically significant) indicating that age was underestimated for males. This could be a problem where a perpetrator’s age is underestimated as a result not sentenced accordingly as they are mistaken for a minor. The mean skeletal age difference for females was found to be 0.64 years, indicating that age was underestimated by up to 0.64 years for females while the mean skeletal age difference was found to be 0.50 years for males in overall. This indicated that the Greulich and Pyle atlas underestimated age by 0.50 years overall. Significant statistical difference was observed between the mean chronological age and the mean estimated age as the p-values were found to be 0.03 for females and 0.05 for males. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the Greulich and Pyle atlas can be used to estimate age but with caution as there is a possibility of errors. There is need for this atlas to be revised to reduce errors in age estimation for the Botswana context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:07:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd4c39e12da74e0495a13908bfaca3b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2665-9107 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:07:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd4c39e12da74e0495a13908bfaca3b42023-06-21T06:59:55ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Reports2665-91072023-07-017100312Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana populationBaraedi Olaotse0Phokedi Gothatamang Norma1Panzirah-Mabaka Kaone2Mosothwane Morongwa3Mokgadi Janes4Kemiso Kabo5Mugoma Shathani6Patlakwe Thato7Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Plot 10071, Boseja Ward, Private Mail Bag 016, Palapye, BotswanaDepartment of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Plot 10071, Boseja Ward, Private Mail Bag 016, Palapye, Botswana; Corresponding author.Department of Forensic Pathology, Botswana Police Service, P.O Box 1082, Gaborone, BotswanaArchaeology Unit, University of Botswana, Plot 4775, Notwane Road, Gaborone, BotswanaChemical, Biological Nuclear and Radiological Weapons Management Authority, Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, Private Bag 00384, Gaborone, BotswanaDepartment of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Plot 10071, Boseja Ward, Private Mail Bag 016, Palapye, BotswanaDepartment of Forensic Pathology, Botswana Police Service, P.O Box 1082, Gaborone, BotswanaDepartment of Forensic Pathology, Botswana Police Service, P.O Box 1082, Gaborone, BotswanaThe applicability of Greulich and Pyle atlas for estimating age for court cases that require age estimation amongst the Botswana population is often questioned because the atlas has been adopted without being evaluated for Botswana. It has long been established that accuracies of such age estimation methods are dependent on different factors such as the general health and nutrition of the population. We present a study aimed at determining the level of accuracy of the Greulich and Pyle atlas at estimating age for the Botswana population. It is the first time that this type of study is being performed for Botswana. The results will be used to confirm if there is need to develop specific age estimation standards for Botswana. A total of 140 x-ray image samples were obtained from local hospitals for patients aged between 5 and 18 years. The sample images were compared with the Greulich and Pyle age estimation standards. In forensic age estimations, there are several important age limits which are considered. The legal age of maturity for Botswana is 18 years. This age limit is very important in determining whether offenders should be tried as children or adults and at the same time, in determining if victims are minors or adults. It also forms the basis for sentencing of offenders for crimes committed against children. For the important age group 15 ≤ 18 the mean skeletal age difference was found to be 0.94 (statistically significant) indicating that age was underestimated for males. This could be a problem where a perpetrator’s age is underestimated as a result not sentenced accordingly as they are mistaken for a minor. The mean skeletal age difference for females was found to be 0.64 years, indicating that age was underestimated by up to 0.64 years for females while the mean skeletal age difference was found to be 0.50 years for males in overall. This indicated that the Greulich and Pyle atlas underestimated age by 0.50 years overall. Significant statistical difference was observed between the mean chronological age and the mean estimated age as the p-values were found to be 0.03 for females and 0.05 for males. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the Greulich and Pyle atlas can be used to estimate age but with caution as there is a possibility of errors. There is need for this atlas to be revised to reduce errors in age estimation for the Botswana context.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000075Age estimationGreulich and Pyle atlasMean skeletal ageChronological ageBotswana populationStandard error of estimate |
| spellingShingle | Baraedi Olaotse Phokedi Gothatamang Norma Panzirah-Mabaka Kaone Mosothwane Morongwa Mokgadi Janes Kemiso Kabo Mugoma Shathani Patlakwe Thato Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population Forensic Science International: Reports Age estimation Greulich and Pyle atlas Mean skeletal age Chronological age Botswana population Standard error of estimate |
| title | Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population |
| title_full | Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population |
| title_short | Evaluation of the suitability of the Greulich and Pyle atlas in estimating age for the Botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young Botswana population |
| title_sort | evaluation of the suitability of the greulich and pyle atlas in estimating age for the botswana population using hand and wrist radiographs of young botswana population |
| topic | Age estimation Greulich and Pyle atlas Mean skeletal age Chronological age Botswana population Standard error of estimate |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000075 |
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