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Laser height measuring device to quickly detect malnutrition of children in low and middle income countries
World Vision International PROJECT
About This Project
Summary
Accurate height/length measurement is key to detect wasting that’s killing one million children yearly. Existing digital devices are not >99% accurate and precise and recent studies are finding Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference screenings miss many wasted children, especially in Asia where 70% of cases occur. World Vision partnered with MagpieTech to develop a laser device using patented triple laser technology for any context that is quicker, lighter, low-cost, and easy-to-use for measuring children.
Goals & Objectives
The project goal was to design and test a laser device with >99% agreement, precision, and reliability compared to the gold standard in LMIC settings, ShorrBoard, even when used by volunteers. A prospective validation study tested the device during Vietnam’s annual child nutrition assessment.
Results & Impact
The laser device shows >99% agreement (mean difference <0.5cm), high precision, reliability, and 30% faster measurements. Enables cost-efficient data collection, volunteer-led early wasting detection, and decentralization. Vietnam Ministry of Health plans pilot in two provinces and gradual scale-up.
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