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 r ural health clinic in an area of seasonal malaria, during the low transmiss ion season. Methods: Haemoglobin estimation and blood slide examination for malaria par asites were performed on 280 consecutive patients attending outpatient cura tive 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 t ested had haemoglobin values below the fewer reference limits, suggesting t hat anaemia is widely present in this population even during the low malari a season. Only 5% of patients were positive for Plasmodium falciparum malar ia, Peripheral blood film examination suggested iron deficiency as the majo r cause of anaemia. Conclusions: Further studies to define the underlying causes of anaemia and to develop community strategies to prevent anaemia are required. The assoc iation between fever and anaemia and the use of pallor to diagnose anaemia, are discussed.