Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T10:19:06.968Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Iron status of South African women working in a fruit-packing factory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

P Wolmarans ,
MA Dhansay ,
EPG Mansvelt ,
JA Laubscher  and
AJS Benadé
P Wolmarans*
Affiliation:
Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
MA Dhansay
Affiliation:
Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
EPG Mansvelt
Affiliation:
Department of Haematological Pathology, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, South Africa
JA Laubscher
Affiliation:
Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
AJS Benadé
Affiliation:
Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
*
*Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the iron status, and the risk factors for iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA), of non-pregnant adult women working in a fruit-packing factory.

Design:

A cross-sectional analytical study was done on 338 women, 18 to 55 years of age. Information on demographic data, risk factors for ID, smoking, and the consumption of red meat, chicken and fish was collected by questionnaire. Height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. A non-fasting venous blood sample was analysed for haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, serum transferrin and C-reactive protein; transferrin saturation (TFS) was calculated.

Setting:

Fruit-packing factory in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Results:

The mean value for Hb was 13.06 (standard deviation (SD) 1.16) g dl−1 and for SF 48.0 (SD 47.8) μgl−1 (geometric mean 26.44 μgl−1). Women (n = 325) were categorised on the basis of iron status: 60% had a normal iron status (NIS); 12.6% had low TFS (<16%) but normal Hb (≥12 g dl−1) and SF (≥12 μgl−1) concentrations (LTS); and 27.4% had low iron status (LIS), defined as combinations of low SF (<12 μgl−1 or <20 μgl−1), low TFS (<16%) and low Hb (<12 gdl−1). More than 30% of the women were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kgm−2). The risk ratio for LIS (LIS vs. NIS) was 3.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–7.6) if women were still menstruating or 3.2 (95% CI 1.6–6.2) if they were pregnant during the past 12 months. Women with LIS consumed significantly smaller portions of red meat, chicken and fish than did women in the other two groups.

Conclusions:

IDA (low Hb, SF and TFS) and ID (low SF and TFS) did not seem to be a major problem. Women who were still menstruating or were pregnant during the past 12 months were at greater risk for ID. The consumption of smaller portions of red meat, chicken and fish was related to LIS. A high prevalence of obesity, which demonstrated the coexistence of both under- and overnutrition, was observed.

Keywords

AnaemiaIron deficiencyIron-deficiency anaemiaIron statusWomen
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 6 , Issue 5 , August 2003 , pp. 439 - 445
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2003

References

1World Health Organization (WHO). Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Assessment, Prevention, and Control. A Guide for Programme Managers. WHO/NHD/01.3. Geneva: WHO, 2001.Google Scholar
2Mahan, LK, Arlin, MT, eds. Nutritional care in anaemia. In: Krause's Food, Nutrition & Diet Therapy, 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, 1992; 557–68.Google Scholar
3Scholl, TO, Hediger, ML, Fischer, RL, Shearer, JW. Anemia vs iron deficiency: increased risk of preterm delivery in a prospective study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1992; 55: 985–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Murphy, JF, O'Riordan, J, Newcombe, RG, Coles, EC, Pearson, JF. Relation of haemoglobin levels in first and second trimesters to outcome of pregnancy. Lancet 1986; 1: 992–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Mayet, FGH. The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency in the Indian community in Natal. South African Medical Journal 1976; 50: 1889–92.Google ScholarPubMed
6Mayet, FGH, Schutte, CHJ, Reinach, SG. Anaemia among the inhabitants of a rural area in northern Natal. South African Medical Journal 1985; 67: 458–62.Google ScholarPubMed
7Kruger, M, Dhansay, MA, van Staden, E, Faber, M, Badenhorst, CJ, Mansvelt, EPG, et al. Anaemia and iron deficiency in women in the third trimester of pregnancy receiving selective iron supplementation. South African Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 1994; 6: 132–7.Google Scholar
8Nesamvuni, AE. Iron status in relation to dietary iron intake in adult blacks aged 15–64 years residing in the Cape Peninsula (The Brisk 1990). MSc thesis, University of the North, 1995.Google Scholar
9Vorster, HH, Oosthuizen, W, Jerling, JC, Veldman, FJ, Burger, HM. The Nutritional Status of South Africans. A Review of the Literature from 1975–1996. Part 2 of 2. Health Systems Trust. Durban: Kwik Kopy Printing, 1997.Google Scholar
10Li, R, Chen, X, Yan, H, Deurenberg, P, Garby, L, Hautvast, JGAJ. Functional consequences of iron supplementation in iron-deficient female cotton mill workers in Beijing, China. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994; 59: 908–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Scholz, BD, Gross, R, Schultink, W, Sastroamidjojo, S. Anaemia is associated with reduced productivity of women workers even in less-physically-strenuous tasks. British Journal of Nutrition 1997; 77: 47–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Untoro, J, Gross, R, Schultink, W, Sediaoetama, D. The association between BMI and haemoglobin and work productivity among Indonesian female factory workers. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998; 52: 131–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Edgerton, VR, Gardner, GW, Ohira, Y, Gunawardena, KA, Senewiratne, B. Iron-deficiency anaemia and its effect on worker productivity and activity patterns. British Medical Journal 1979; 2: 1546–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Gibson, RS. Assessment of iron status. In: Principles of Nutritional Assessment. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990; 349–76.Google Scholar
15Astrup, P. Some physiological and pathological effects of moderate carbon monoxide exposure. British Medical Journal 1972; 4: 447–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Fairbanks, VF, Klee, GG. Biochemical aspects of hematology. In: Burtis, CA, Ashwood, ER, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, 1994; 1974–2072.Google Scholar
17Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO). Requirements of Vitamin A, Iron, Folate and Vitamin B12. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation. Rome: FAO, 1988; 37.Google Scholar
18Allen, LH. Pregnancy and iron deficiency: unresolved issues. Nutrition Reviews 1997; 55: 91–101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Brown, KH, Lanata, CF, Yuen, ML, Peerson, JM, Butron, B, Lönnerdal, B. Potential magnitude of the misclassification of a population's trace element status due to infection: example from a survey of young Peruvian children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1993; 58: 549–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed