Nutritional anemia in the English-speaking Caribbean and Suriname.

Anemia is a problem in all countries of the English-speaking Caribbean where data are available. It affects mostly preschool age children and pregnant and lactating women. The most common cause is a deficiency of iron. This is probably due to an adequate intake with a low absorption. A deficiency of folate is also probably a responsible factor in the pathogenesis of some of the anemias. Anemias associated with parasitic infestations such as hookworm and whipworm and hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia are also noted.