THE RARITY OF ULCERATIVE-COLITIS IN SOUTH-AFRICAN BLACKS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 74  (4) , 332-336
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis is rare in black populations of sub-Saharan Africa. Only 18 cases were reported up to 1975. Since then, in 4 yr, an additional 13 patients were diagnosed at Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. This hospital serves a population of approximately 1 1/2 million blacks. The low frequency of ulcerative colitis is in accord with the low incidence of other noninfective large bowel diseases and contrasts with their high prevalences in white populations. Reasons for the low incidence of ulcerative colitis in blacks are not known but consumption of their still largely traditional diet, insufficient exposure to environmental changes linked with urbanization and genetic factors may be responsible. All patients in this series but one were females. They were urbanized, belonged to upper social and educational strata and consumed a Western or partially Westernized diet.

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