Improving the physical examination for anemia
Methods
Twelve primary health care providers in Bangladesh examined 452 pregnant women (198 had Hb < 10) for the presence or absence of pallor on nine different anatomical sites, viz. nail-beds, nail-bed blanching, palm, palmar creases, face, lips, tongue, oral mucosa and conjunctiva
Results
| This chart is the standardized colors the researchers used to train examiners and below is distribution of results for the conjunctival color. |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
| Hb < 10 | | | | | | 28% | 42% | 36% | | | | | |
| Hb 10 - 12 | | | | | | | | 19% | 19% | 40% | | | |
| Hb > 12 | | | | | | | | | 10% | 53% | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |