Eye screening can be used to perform anemia screening and treatment in adolescent girls using ToucHb

PURPOSE: Anemia is common in adolescent girls. Apprehension while drawing blood to estimate hemoglobin concentration is a barrier for confirming anemia. ToucHb, a noninvasive instrument that estimates the hemoglobin by taking an image of the exposed conjunctiva, was used during eye screening to help diagnose and treat anemia. METHODS: ToucHb was used during secondary school eye screening and during house-to-house eye screening to estimate the hemoglobin concentration in the body. Each of the girls was distributed a packet of 60 tablets of ferrous and folate and a tablet of albendazole. They were followed up after 3 months. RESULTS: Exactly 1511 municipal school girls aged 10-19 years (mean 12.9; standard deviation [SD] 1.64) were examined. Of them, 949 (62.8%) had hemoglobin of ≤9 mg%. Among those girls with hemoglobin ≤9 mg%, the mean (SD) during the initial and follow-up examinations was 6.1 (1.4) and 9.6 (1.03), respectively, by paired t-test (P < 0.001). Another 588 girls (average age 14.4 years, SD 1.2) had their eyes examined and hemoglobin estimated during a house-to-house eye screening. Of them, 116 (19.7%) had hemoglobin level of ≤9 mg%. Their pre-Hb was 7.9 (SD 1.05) on average and after 3 months, it was 9.6 (SD 1.02). Among those girls with hemoglobin ≤9 mg%, the mean (SD) during the initial and follow-up examinations was 6.2 (1.4) and 7.9 (1.1), respectively, by paired t-test (P < 0.001) CONCLUSION: ToucHb was useful to diagnose anemia while doing eye screening and to ensure its treatment. Anemia diagnosis and management would enhance the health of adolescent girls.