Stature Estimation from Handprint and Footprint Anthropometry in the Adult Punjabi Population in Peninsular Malaysia

Handprint and footprint evidence recovered from crime scenes can be used to estimate stature and support biological profiling when ridge-detail comparison is not possible. Stature estimation standards for the Punjabi population of Peninsular Malaysia, a culturally distinct minority population with potentially different anthropometric characteristics, have not previously been established. This study developed sex-specific and combined regression models for stature estimation from handprint and footprint dimensions in this population. Ninety-four healthy adult Punjabis (40 males, 54 females; aged 18–50 years) were included following verification of sex classification and age-eligibility criteria. Bilateral handprints and footprints were collected using standardised ink-on-paper methods. Composite foot-length, foot-breadth, hand-length, and hand-breadth scores were derived via principal component analysis to address multicollinearity among outline-length variables, and models were validated using leave-one-out cross-validation. Significant positive correlations were observed between stature and print parameters (p < 0.05; R = 0.355–0.807 in males, 0.398–0.714 in females). The foot-based model explained 68.5% of stature variance in males (R² = 0.685, cross-validated R² = 0.624, SEE = 4.35 cm) and 49.8% in females (R² = 0.498, cross-validated R² = 0.432, SEE = 3.93 cm). Logistic regression classified sex from print dimensions with 93.6% accuracy (AUC = 0.960), supporting sex-specific equations when sex can be inferred from available evidence. These findings represent a population-specific forensic anthropometric reference for Punjabis in Peninsular Malaysia; further validation in independent samples is recommended prior to routine forensic application.