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  • Title: Haematological nutrition of schoolchildren in the far northwestern cape.
    Author: Westhuyzen J, Steyn NP.
    Journal: Trop Geogr Med; 1992 Jan; 44(1-2):47-51. PubMed ID: 1496722.
    Abstract:
    The prevalence of anaemia and deficiencies of iron, folate and vitamin B12 were investigated in primary schoolchildren of mixed ethnic origin living in four towns in a remote semi-desert area of southern Africa, the Richtersveld. Anaemia was uncommon (6.3%); iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies were not observed. Sub-normal erythrocyte folate concentrations were present in 14.5%, but significant folate deficiency was rare (less than 2%). There were negligible differences in the haematological parameters of the children in the four towns, even though children living in Kuboes received milk at school and children at Dryfsandt a lunch of milk, brown bread and margarine. The results support the general observation that schoolchildren are not a risk group for nutritional anaemia. 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.
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