Authors: Lindblade, Kim A.¹; Mwololo, Kumbu²; van Eijk, Anna M.¹; Peterson, Elizabeth³; Odhiambo, Frank⁴; Williamson, John¹; Slutsker, Laurence¹

Source: Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 11, Number 11, November 2006 , pp. 1679-1687(9)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Objectives 

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the WHO Haemoglobin Colour Scale (HCS) for anaemia in three groups of children aged 2 months to 2 years (sick children, those visiting an immunization clinic and a community-based random sample of children) and a sample of pregnant women. Methods 

Finger-prick blood samples were taken from all consenting participants. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels from the HCS were compared with results from a HemoCue^TM portable haemoglobinometer. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for the HCS were calculated. Results 

A total of 457 sick children, 336 children visiting immunization clinics, 454 children from the community at large and 643 pregnant women participated. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) in these groups was 87%, 79%, 74% and 52%, respectively. The prevalence of severe anaemia (Hb < 7 g/dl) was 24%, 11%, 10% and 2%, respectively. The sensitivity of the HCS for anaemia ranged from 60% to 79% and specificity from 59% to 94%. The sensitivity of the HCS for severe anaemia ranged from 24% to 63% and the specificity from 97% to 100%. Through use of the HCS, the proportion of sick, anaemic children visiting peripheral health facilities diagnosed and treated for anaemia would increase from 3% to 65%. Conclusions 

In an area with high prevalence of anaemia among sick children, use of the HCS has the potential to significantly increase the proportion of sick, anaemic children who are diagnosed with anaemia and given appropriate treatment. Further evaluations of the effect of the use of the HCS on treatment practices at the health facility level are required.

Keywords: anaemia; Haemoglobin Colour Scale; sensitivity and specificity; children; pregnant women; community health workers

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01721.x

Affiliations: 1:  Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA 2:  Medical Training College Siaya Branch, Siaya, Kenya 3:  Vermont Department of Health, Bington, VT, USA 4:  Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya

Publication date: 2006-11-01

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