Shakir tape is used to measure?

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

Shakir tape is a specific tool designed to measure the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC).
The MUAC measurement is a key anthropometric indicator used to assess the nutritional status of children, typically those between 6 months and 5 years of age.
It is a primary method for screening for acute malnutrition in community settings because it is simple, inexpensive, and provides a rapid assessment.
The tape's color-coding (Red, Yellow, Green) allows for immediate visual interpretation, enabling even minimally trained individuals to identify children at risk.

Option B: Head circumference is measured to assess brain growth and detect conditions like hydrocephalus or microcephaly.
Option C: Chest circumference is measured to assess growth and development, particularly in relation to head circumference in infants.
Option D: Total length (or height) is a measure of linear growth and is assessed using different equipment.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Use of Shakir tape for anthropometric measurement as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses and community health workers rely on MUAC as a rapid, life-saving screening tool in resource-limited settings to identify children needing urgent nutritional intervention.
MUAC is a better predictor of mortality in children with malnutrition than weight-for-height measurements, making it a critical tool in public health programs.
What if? If a child's measurement falls in the yellow zone (12.5 cm to 13.4 cm), the nurse's immediate action is not to refer for inpatient treatment but to provide nutritional counseling to the caregiver and schedule a regular follow-up to monitor progress. Referral for intensive therapeutic feeding is reserved for the red zone (less than 12.5 cm).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question, which is 'Shakir tape'.
Recall the purpose of this specific medical instrument. It is a specialized anthropometric tool.
Think about the context where Shakir tape is most commonly used: community health and pediatrics for nutritional screening.
Evaluate the given options, which are all different types of body measurements.
Connect the function of nutritional screening in children with the anatomical location that best reflects acute changes in nutritional status, which is the muscle and fat mass of the upper arm.
This logical connection leads directly to 'Mid-arm circumference' as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) pp. 313-315, 311-313

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 480-482

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