Biochemical assessment of the nutritional status of infants, children and adolescents in South Africa (1997-2022): a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of the published peer-reviewed articles on the biochemical assessment of nutritional status of South African infants, children and adolescents in 1997-2022.

Design

Online databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, EbscoHost and SAePublications) were used to identify thirty-nine papers.

Setting

South Africa, 1997-2022.

Participants

Infants, children and adolescents.

Results

Vitamin A deficiency prevalence was 35-67 % before 2001 and mostly below 16 % after 2008. Anaemia ranged from 5·4 to 75·0 %, with 36-54 % of infants below 1 year being anaemic. Among 0- to 6-year-olds, iron deficiency (ID) was 7·2-39·4 % in rural and 16-41·9 % in urban areas. Zn deficiency remained high, especially among 0- to 6-year-olds, at 39-48 %. Iodine in

SUBMITTER: Malan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11604332 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature