title: Appendicectomy prevalences in South African adolescents.
abstract: From questioning 16,939 South African pupils of 16-18 years, in 56 high schools, mean prevalences of appendicectomies in representative segments of ethnic groups were found to be: rural Blacks 0.6%; urban Blacks 0.7%; Indians, 2.9%; Coloureds (Eur-African-Malay), 1.7%; Whites, 10.5%. Percentages in the sexes were similar. Only those of Indian and Coloured pupils appear to be increasing. Blacks and Whites, respectively, have high and low intakes of fibre-containing foods, which are negatively correlated with appendicectomy prevalences. However, although intakes of fibre-containing foods are slightly higher in Indians and Coloureds than in Whites, the former's appendicectomy prevalences are lower than would be dietarily expected.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People