An epidemiological study of haemoglobin levels in infancy in Jerusalem. The effect of social factors and the relation to physical growth.

The infant population of a mixed middle and low social class community in a western neighbourhood of Jerusalem has been examined for haemoglobin, haematocrit weight and length at 9 months of age. The mean haemoglobin has been 11.1 g/100 ml, the mean haematocrit 36.1 and the mean MCHC 31.1%. In most cases the anemia has been mild. Statistically significant differences in the mean haemoglobin have been found by social class of father and sex of the child. No statistically significant association has been found between birth weight, weight and length at 9 months and mean weight increment per week between birth and 9 months of age and haemoglobin. Lower levels of Hb have been demonstrated in the males by categories of birth weight and categories of weight increment.