Page 2 of 3
How to measure MUAC
Click each step to see the description and its accompanying animation.
Step 1: explaining
Explain to Kofi and his parents what you are going to do.
Step 2: preparing
Remove clothing from his upper body. Ask Kofi to stand straight with
feet slightly apart and sideways to you. Ask the second measurer
to assist with this. Make sure that the arm to be measured is relaxed
and hangs down the side of Kofi’s body.
Step 3: marking the measuring point
Locate the olecranon and acromium processes and mark them with a pen.
Measure the length between them and mark the midpoint.
Step 4: reading the measurement
Next, place the tape measure around the midpoint of the left arm. Measure
the MUAC while ensuring that the tape neither pinches the arm nor
is left loose. Read the measurement to the nearest 1mm. Repeat the
measurement twice more and take an average to ensure an accurate
result.
