title: Haematological nutrition of schoolchildren in the far northwestern cape.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, School of Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westhuyzen
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Steyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*