Table 1.
Socio-demographic characteristics and prevalence of anaemia, low zinc and selenium status of the preschool children
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Sex (male) | 196/376 | 52.1 |
| Ethnicity | ||
| Black | 154/365 | 42.2 |
| Brown | 189/365 | 51.8 |
| White | 22/365 | 6.0 |
| Birth order (3rd or subsequent) | 127/376 | 33.8 |
| Socioeconomic status (extremely low) | 182/376 | 48.4 |
| Dietary supplements | ||
| Vitamin A | 204/376 | 54.3 |
| Iron syrup within 6 months | 200/376 | 53.2 |
| Helminth infection | 58/325 | 17.8 |
| De-worming treatment within 6 months | 192/376 | 51.1 |
| Anaemia | ||
| < 5 years (Hb < 110 g/L) | 11/319 | 3.4 |
| ≥ 5 years (Hb < 115 g/L) | 3/40 | 7.5 |
| Low Zn status (serum Zn < 9.9 μmol/L) | 13/358 | 3.6 |
| Low Se status (serum Se ≤ 0.82 μmol/L) | 34/358 | 9.5 |