Haematological nutrition of schoolchildren in the far northwestern cape
Westhuyzen, J.; Steyn, N.P.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 44(1-2): 47-51
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 1496722 Document Number: 398063
Nutritional anemia linked to malnutrition is often associated with morbidity. Moreover, evidence suggests that iron deficiency anemia is detrimental to scholastic and intellectual performance. This study investigates the prevalence of anaemia and deficiencies of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 in primary schoolchildren of mixed ethnic origin living in four towns in the remote semi-desert area of Richtersveld, southern Africa. Students were of poor, yet mixed, socioeconomic status and aged 7-15 years. Neither iron nor B12 deficiencies were observed in the study population. 6.3% were, however, anemic. While less than 2% were significantly folate-deficient, 14.5% presented with subnormal erythrocyte folate concentrations. Negligible differences were found between hematological parameters despite variance in children's lunch diets. Results suggest that these schoolchildren are not at risk for nutritional anemia.