Prediction of height from foot length: Use of measurement in field surveys.

Investigators have studied the relation between height and the length of various long bones (Dupertius and Hadden, 1951; Trotter and Gleser, 1952, 1958; Zorab, Prime, and Harrison, 1963), and have found good correlation between these measurements. The accurate measurement of height under field survey conditions is extremely difficult, but can provide valuable information. In this type of survey, measurements have frequently to be made by staff with a minimum of training in the techniques used, and the measurement of any of the long bones would not be a practicable alternative to the measurement of height. A measurement of foot length can, however, be made very simply and accurately. This paper describes the method of measurement and gives details of the correlation between foot length and height in three groups of African children of different ethnic origin.