title: Protein energy malnutrition in coloured children in Western Township, Johannesburg. Part II. Prevalence and severity.
abstract: Anthropometric measures of growth and serum albumin and transferrin concentrations were assessed in 344 Coloured children aged from 1 to 16 years living in Western Township, Johannesburg. About one third of children were diagnosed as suffering from protein energy malnutrition (PEM) on the basis of weight-for-age below the 3rd percentile. The prevalence varied in different age groups, and was highest in the group aged from 5 to 8 years. A high prevalence of abnormally low head circumference measurements was found in the 1-year-old children (41, 2%). The severity of PEM was relatively mild, as reflected by the serum albumin and transferrin concentrations, and the almost total absence of oedema among the children. A positive association of breast feeding and income with growth was noted.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001132:Arm; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin