Anaemia in Northern Nigeria. Community diagnosis in a rural hospital
Oomen, J.M.
East African Medical Journal 52(4): 208-218
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 1175494 Document Number: 90207
In a rural district in Northern Nigeria the inhabitants were nomads, craftsmen, farmers and fishermen from 6 tribes who lived on a diet of cereals, plants and fish. Malaria was holoendemic, hookworm and schistosomal infestations were common and the sickle cell trait was found in about 15% of the population. The overall incidence of anaemia was high; in a series of 3650 attendances at hospital the Hb value was less than 70% (100% = 14.6 g/100 ml) in 7.4% and less than 55% in 2.4%. In 88 subjects with anaemia, Hb less than 55%, it was hypochromic in 59%; malaria and other intercurrent diseases, malabsorption of Fe, pregnancy, amoebic dysentery and schistosomiasis were considered to be etiological factors. Megaloblastic anaemia as judged by the presence of multilobed polymorphs was common and accounted for 36 of the 88. Megaloblastic anaemia is attributed to a low intake of folacin and destruction of folacin in cooking. It is considered that urinary schistosomiasis is liable to cause anaemia in growing children in Northern Nigeria. The mild degree of hookworm infection is thought not to contribute to the anaemia problem.