Studies since 2005 on South African primary schoolchildren suggest lower anaemia prevalence in some regions

Taljaard, Christine; Covic, Namukolo; Graan, Averalda Van; Krüger, Heike; Jerling, Johann C.

doi:10.1080/16070658.2013.11734468

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…A high prevalence of ID (20.9%) was reported among primary school-going children in KwaZulu-Natal province [ 34 ]. To this end, micronutrient fortification through the school feeding programme was introduced [ 31 ].…”

Section: Micronutrient Deficiencies In South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofortified Crops for Combating Hidden Hunger in South Africa: Availability, Acceptability, Micronutrient Retention and Bioavailability

Siwela

Pillay

Govender

et al. 2020

Foods

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In many poorer parts of the world, biofortification is a strategy that increases the concentration of target nutrients in staple food crops, mainly by genetic manipulation, to alleviate prevalent nutrient deficiencies. We reviewed the (i) prevalence of vitamin A, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies; (ii) availability of vitamin A, iron and Zn biofortified crops, and their acceptability in South Africa. The incidence of vitamin A and iron deficiency among children below five years old is 43.6% and 11%, respectively, while the risk of Zn deficiency is 45.3% among children aged 1 to 9 years. Despite several strategies being implemented to address the problem, including supplementation and commercial fortification, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is still high. Biofortification has resulted in the large-scale availability of βcarotene-rich orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), while provitamin A biofortified maize and Zn and/or iron biofortified common beans are at development stages. Agronomic biofortification is being investigated to enhance yields and concentrations of target nutrients in crops grown in agriculturally marginal environments. The consumer acceptability of OFSP and provitamin A biofortified maize were higher among children compared to adults. Accelerating the development of other biofortified staple crops to increase their availability, especially to the target population groups, is essential. Nutrition education should be integrated with community health programmes to improve the consumption of the biofortified crops, coupled with further research to develop suitable recipes/formulations for biofortified foods.

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Section: Micronutrient Deficiencies In South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofortified Crops for Combating Hidden Hunger in South Africa: Availability, Acceptability, Micronutrient Retention and Bioavailability

Siwela

Pillay

Govender

et al. 2020

Foods

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“…[25] It therefore appears that the anaemia prevalence in primary learners has declined in most areas in SA. [25,26] This makes the high prevalence of anaemia, nearly 40%, in our study the more perplexing, as is the fact that nearly three-quarters of the anaemic cases are non-IDA anaemia. IDA is a preventable cause of cognitive impairment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…[33] Researchers have speculated that the food fortification programme is ineffective as they calculated that at the current dosage the bioavailable elemental iron is too low. [26] We feel that since iron screening is not done routinely in infants, the exact magnitude of the problem is unknown. Therefore, infants are not routinely given supplements and early treatment is not given.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of iron deficiency and anaemia on primary school learners’ scholastic performance

2016

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“…We assumed a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in the selected study population based on the results of the 2005 NFCS-FB-I ( 1 ) . Results of smaller more localized studies do, however, suggest that the prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in children may have improved in certain regions of the country since the NFCS-FB-I ( 34 , 35 ) . The 2012 SANHANES-1 also suggested that the micronutrient status of children in South Africa has improved in the last years ( 2 ) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effect of African leafy vegetables on the micronutrient status of mildly deficient farm-school children in South Africa: a randomized controlled study

Hoeven

Faber

Osei

et al. 2015

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of African leafy vegetable (ALV) consumption on Fe, Zn and vitamin A status in children. Design: Children were randomly allocated to receive either a 300 g cooked ALV dish and school meal starch (n 86) or the normal school meal (n 81) five times per week for three months. ALV in the dish consisted mainly of Amaranthus cruentus (at least 80 %) and the remainder of Cleome gynandra, Cucurbita maxima or Vigna unguiculata. Nutrient content and consumer acceptance of the ALV dish were also determined. Setting: North West Province, South Africa. Subjects: Grade R to grade 4 children (6-12 years old) of two farm schools. Results: The ALV dish contributed 11·6-15·8 mg Fe and 1·4-3·7 mg Zn. At baseline, prevalence of deficiencies in the intervention group was 16·0 %, 16·3 %, 7·0 % and 75·6 %, respectively, for anaemia (Hb < 11·5 g/dl), Fe (serum ferritin < 15 µg/l), vitamin A (serum retinol < 20 μg/dl) and Zn (serum Zn < 65 μg/dl); and in the control group 10·5 %, 18·5 %, 2·5 % and 75·3 %, respectively. No significant estimated intervention effect was found. Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial showed that ALV were unable to improve serum retinol, serum ferritin or Hb if there are only mild deficiencies present. Furthermore, despite the low Zn status in the study population, ALV consumption did not improve serum Zn concentrations either.

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Studies since 2005 on South African primary schoolchildren suggest lower anaemia prevalence in some regions

Cited by 6 publications

References 12 publications

Biofortified Crops for Combating Hidden Hunger in South Africa: Availability, Acceptability, Micronutrient Retention and Bioavailability

Biofortified Crops for Combating Hidden Hunger in South Africa: Availability, Acceptability, Micronutrient Retention and Bioavailability

The effects of iron deficiency and anaemia on primary school learners’ scholastic performance

Effect of African leafy vegetables on the micronutrient status of mildly deficient farm-school children in South Africa: a randomized controlled study

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