Iron status and iron deficiency anaemia in adolescents in a Tanzanian suburban area.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent and degree of anaemia in adolescents in a Tanzanian suburban area, to estimate the contribution of iron deficiency, using serum (S)-ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as markers of iron deficiency.


METHODS
Consecutive primigravidae at booking for antenatal care (n = 76), primary school boys (n = 101) and postmenarchal girls (n = 130) age >or=12 years were investigated.


METHODS
Weight and height were measured; venous blood was drawn for haematological analyses, malaria screening, S-ferritin, sTfR, and C-reactive protein. Stool specimens were analysed for intestinal parasites.


RESULTS
Anaemia (Hb <105 g/l) was highly prevalent in adolescent primigravidae (75.5%). Adolescent girls were more anaemic (Hb <120 g/l) than boys (14.5 vs. 7.9%). Iron deficiency and hookworm infestation were predominant in both groups of adolescents, however, malaria contributed more to anaemia in the primigravidae. Nearly 40% of the anaemic primigravidae had indication of infection, and S-ferritin was less useful as a marker of iron deficiency in this group. sTfR identified iron deficiency in both pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents.
Massawe
S N
SN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. smassawe@muchs.ac.tz
Ronquist
G
G
Nyström
L
L
Lindmark
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D018881:Suburban Health; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins