Prevalence of anaemia in patients attending an outpatient clinic in western Rift Valley in Kenya during a low malaria season.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of anaemia in outpatients attending a rural health clinic in an area of seasonal malaria, during the low transmission season.

METHODS

Haemoglobin estimation and blood slide examination for malaria parasites were performed on 280 consecutive patients attending outpatient curative services at Entasopia Health Centre, Kajiado District, Kenya, between April-May 1996. Anaemia was defined according to World Health Organisation guidelines for age, sex and pregnancy status.

RESULTS

In all groups except adult males, more than half of the patients tested had haemoglobin values below the lower reference limits, suggesting that anaemia is widely present in this population even during the low malaria season. Only 5% of patients were positive for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Peripheral blood film examination suggested iron deficiency as the major cause of anaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies to define the underlying causes of anaemia and to develop community strategies to prevent anaemia are required. The association between fever and anaemia and the use of pallor to diagnose anaemia, are discussed.