Nutritional Anaemia in ante-natals in the English-speaking Caribbean

ABSTRACT

Information on the prevalence and causes of anaemia in ante-natals in the English-speaking Caribbean was obtained from the study of information from ante-natal clinics and surveys conducted in the Caribbean from 1972-1982. There are an estimated 76,086.5, 65,796.0 and 6,422.5 ante-natals with haemoglobin levels below 11.0, 10.0 and 8.0 g/dl respectively, from an estimated population in the English-speaking Caribbean of 5,670,000. This anaemia is probably caused from a deficiency of iron, folate and vitamin B12. Parasitic infestations could be a causative factor in some of the anaemias. Sickle cell disease has also been noted