Iron deficiency and anemia among Indian women in Fiji

In June 1979, 245 Hindu and 240 Moslem women of childbearing age (14-45 yr) living in a semi-rural area north of Lautoka were tested for anemia and for iron-deficiency. Ninety-six (39%) of the 245 Hindu women and 77 (32%) of the 240 Moslem women were anemic according to World Health Organization criteria. Most of the cases of anemia were due to iron-deficiency. The prevalence of anemia did not change significantly with advancing age or increasing parity. Hookworm ova were found on examination of a single specimen of feces in 27 (14%) of 195 Hindu and 50 (24%) of 209 Moslem women. The presence of hookworm did not correlate with anemia. The red cell folate level was less than 160μg/l in 117 (24%) of 478 women and the serum vitamin B12 level was less than 100ng/l in 47(10%)of 476 women.Subnormal levels of these vitamins did not correlate with anemia. The serum ferritin was determined to assess tissue iron stores. Two-hundred-and-twenty-four (46%) of 484 Indian women tested had serum ferritin values of less than 10μg/l; 400 (83%) had ferritin values of less than 26μg/l. The high prevalence of iron deficiency appears to be due predominantly to dietary factors.