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Normal hematologic values and prevalence of anemia in children living on selected Pacific atolls
Insights
This study establishes normal hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume ranges for children in the Marshall Islands, addressing a gap in pediatric hematologic data for Pacific island populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Pacific Island Health
- Micronesian Demographics
Background:
- Limited data exists on the hematologic status of children in the Pacific basin.
- Understanding normal ranges is crucial for diagnosing anemia and other blood disorders.
- Previous studies may have excluded valuable data points in establishing normal ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal ranges for hemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in Marshallese children.
- To address the poorly documented hematologic status in this pediatric population.
- To establish the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in the study area.
Main Methods:
- Studied 563 Marshallese children (<16 years) from four atolls.
- Employed a methodology for determining Hb normal range that includes values above the mean.
- Assessed prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency.
Main Results:
- Established reference ranges for Hb and MCV specific to Marshallese children.
- Identified the local prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency.
- Highlighted challenges and proposed solutions for pediatric hematologic reference range determination.
Conclusions:
- The study provides essential hematologic reference values for Marshallese children.
- Findings contribute to better diagnosis and management of anemia in this population.
- The methodology offers a refined approach to establishing pediatric hematologic norms.
Abstract:
The hematologic status of infants and children living on the small islands of the Pacific basin has been poorly documented. This report determines the normal ranges for hemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) for children residing on four of the small atolls of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the archipelago of Micronesia. The difficulty in establishing normal hematologic values in pediatric populations is discussed and a methodology suggested that does not exclude any Hb value above the mean in determining the normal range for Hb. The study population was comprised of 563 Marshallese children representing approximately 3.4% of all children less than 16 years of age living in the Marshall Islands. The local prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency was also established.