Clinical Research Directory

Laser Height Measuring Device Study in Vietnam

This study will evaluate whether a portable laser device can accurately measure the height and length of children younger than 5 years in Quang Nam, Vietnam. Accurate height and length measurements are important for monitoring child growth and identifying children who may have wasting or stunting and need referral for health or nutrition services. Standard wooden measuring boards are reliable but can be heavy, costly, and difficult to use in community outreach settings. The study will compare the laser device with the ShorrBoard, a standard wooden height/length board. Children aged 0-59 months whose caregivers provide consent will have their length (for younger children) or standing height (for older children) measured using both devices by trained community health workers and expert anthropometrists. The main question is: Does the laser device produce height and length measurements that agree closely with the standard ShorrBoard and are similarly precise and reliable when used by frontline health workers? The study hypothesis is that the laser device will show high agreement with the ShorrBoard and will be at least as precise and reliable for measuring children's height and length in a rural outreach setting. The study will also examine whether use of the two devices leads to different classifications of child wasting or stunting based on standard growth indicators.