Protein calorie malnutrition and nutritional anaemia in black preschool children in a South African semirural community

The incidence of nutritional anaemia and of protein calorie malnutrition in 119 randomly selected Black children living in the Muldersdrift area was studied. The ecology of nutritional problems in the community was also investigated. Major problems in the area were poor educational and medical facilities, a high childhood mortality rate and poor cash incomes. An important factor which influenced nutrition was large family size. The incidence of protein calorie malnutrition was 27.6% and of nutritional anaemia 13.3%. In the second year of life the incidence of anaemia was 27.3%. The main cause of anaemia was iron deficiency.