Prevalence of albinism in the South African negro

Two hundred and six individuals (113 males and 93 females) affected with oculocutaneous albinism have been ascertained in 126 Black (South African Negro) families living in Soweto, Johannesburg. The prevalence is approximately 1/3 900 and the carrier rate about 1/32. Autosomal recessive inheritance has been demonstrated for the condition and consanguinity had been shown to be an important factor in the different prevalences found in the different ethnic groups represented in the study. The sex ratio of 1,21 is not significantly different from unity for a sample of this size.