The anthropometric, vitamin A and iron status of pre-school children in the Western and Northern Cape Provinces

Date
1998-11
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and anaemia are major nutritional disorders worldwide, including Africa . It has been estimated that ½ million children go blind annually due to vitamin A deficiency, whereas anaemia affects approximately a quarter of the world's population. Furthermore, protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is known to be responsible for 55 % of childhood deaths worldwide. n view of these relationships, the aims of this study were to establish the anthropometric, vitamin A and iron status of pre-school children in the Western Cape (as part of a national survey), as well as to identify major factors contributing to poor status.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vitamien A tekort en anemie is belangrike nutrisionele probleme wereldwys, insluitend Afrika. Na raming is vitamien A tekort verantwoordelik vir die ontstaan van blindheeid in ongeveer ½ miljoen kinders jaarliks, terwyl anemie voorkom onder ongeveer 'n kwart van die wereld se bevolking. Verder is dit bekend dat proteien-energie-wanvoeding (PEW) verantwoordelik is vir 55% van kindersterftes wereldwyd. In die lig van hierdie bevindinge, was die doelwitte van hierdie studie om die antropometriese-, vitamien A- en ysterstatus van voorskoolse kinders in die Wes-Kaap en Noord-Kaap provinsies (as deel van 'n nasionale studie) te bepaal, en om die belangrikste bydraende faktore tot 'n swak status te identifiseer.
Description
Thesis (PhD) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1998.
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