Given Hapunda

199 will assist in the drawing up of guidelines for pre-school children in South Africa regarding the nutritional status and needs of the children. Methods This was an experimental research design, descriptive in its nature. This is a descriptive study in which quantitative approach was used to collect and analyse data. Data was collected using a socio- demographic questionnaire to determine the social background; anthropometric measurements (height, weight and mid-upper-arm-circumference [MUAC]) for nutritional status and blood spot card for biomedical status (Iron Deficiency Anaemia [IDA]). The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Antroplus, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) colour reference indicator and Hemacue, respectively. Children who attended three pre-school in Evaton West (Johannesburg) and Soshanguve (Pretoria) were involved in this study. Multistage sampling was used, whereby participants were divided into two groups: one experimental and one control group. The experimental group consisted of six pre-schools from both Soshanguve(Pretoria) and Evaton West (Johannesburg). Three pre-schools were randomly selected from both areas, and also for the control group of which the participants from two pre-schools (Sharpeville and Eaton-side) in the Vaal region. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants in all areas. Pre- schools of the Vaal region were selected for the control group on the bases that their social background was similar to that of the area in the experimental group. Data collection methods used in this study were considered to be relevant for producing consistent, accurate information to serve the purpose and to avoid bias that could lead to inaccurate conclusions; they were also found suitable for the participants as they had been tested for validity and reliability through various previous studies conducted. The experimental group was provided with a sorghum-based meal for a period of ten months, while the control group did not receive any supplementary feeding. The study was divided into three phases: to undertake a baseline survey in order to determine all the variables mentioned above; implement, with the assistance of JAM, a feeding programme at the pre-schools for a period of ten months, and then evaluate the impact of the feeding programme on the nutritional status of pre-school children after the period of ten months in both experimental groups. Variables used to collect data at baseline were used again for follow-up data collection, except of the socio-demographic information. This data was also collected for control group for comparison purposes.