Haematological values in a rural Ghanaian population

Early in 1973 residents of 20 randomly selected rural villages in southern Ghana were studied to determine the prevalence of anaemia. Laboratory tests were conducted to learn what haemoglobin phenotypes were present and the distribution of white blood cell counts. Moderate anaemia (below 10 g%) was fairly common, particularly in children and 15--29 year old women, but severe anaemia (below 7 g%) was rare. Malaria infection and diets with low iron content were major factors affecting haemoglobin level, while hookworm infestation and high parity had little effect. Neutropenia (about two-thirds of Caucasian values) and the distribution of haemoglobin types (AS 16.3%; AC 11.1%) were similar to findings in earlier studies. To improve haemoglobin levels in children and young women, low-cost intervention programmes based on volunteer village workers are recommended.