Full-term, peri-urban South African infants under 6 months of age are at risk for early-onset anaemia.
OBJECTIVE
There is a paucity of data on the micronutrient status of low-income, lactating South African women and their infants under 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to elucidate the level of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in peri-urban breast-feeding women and their young infants.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study including anthropometric, biochemical and infant feeding data.


METHODS
Peri-urban settlement in Cape Town, South Africa.


METHODS
Breast-feeding women (n=113) and their infants (aged 1-6 months) attending a peri-urban clinic.


RESULTS
Mean (standard deviation (SD)) haemoglobin (Hb) of the lactating mothers was 12.4 (1.3) g dl(-1), with 32% found to be anaemic (Hb<12 g dl(-1)). Maternal serum retinol was 49.8 (SD 13.3) microg dl(-1), with 4.5% VAD. Using breast milk, mean (SD) retinol concentration was found to be 70.6 (24.6) microg dl(-1) and 15.7 (8.3) microg/g milk fat, with 13% below the cut-off level of <8 microg/g fat. There was no correlation found between breast milk retinol and infant serum retinol. Z-scores (SD) of height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height were -0.69 (0.81), 0.89 (1.01) and 1.78 (0.83), respectively. Mean (SD) infant Hb was 10.9 (1.1) g dl(-1), with the prevalence of anaemia being 50%, 33% and 12% using Hb cut-offs below 11 g dl(-1), 10.5 g dl(-1) and 9.5 g dl(-1), respectively. Mean (SD) infant serum retinol was 26.9 (7.2) microg dl(-1), with 10% being VAD. None of the infants was exclusively breast-fed, 22% were predominantly breast-fed and 78% received complementary (mixed) breast-feeding. Thirty-two per cent of infants received weaning foods at an exceptionally young age (< or =1 month old).


CONCLUSIONS
A high rate of anaemia is present in lactating women residing in resource-poor settings. Moreover, their seemingly healthy infants under 6 months of age are at an elevated risk of developing early-onset anaemia and at lower risk of VAD.
Sibeko
L N
LN
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9.
Dhansay
M A
MA
Charlton
K E
KE
Johns
T
T
Van Stuijvenberg
M E
ME
Gray-Donald
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A