Haematological nutrition of schoolchildren in the far northwestern cape

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.