Haemopoietic response of Nigerian village children to iron, folate supplementation and malaria prophylaxis

The objectives of the present study were: 1. To determine more accurately the extent to which folate deficiency contributes to the anaemia of childhood in the community. 2. To find out how the prevalence of anaemia in children can be reduced by 50 per cent or more. 3. To decide on a cheap and effective supplementation program as a public health measure applicable in the community. For the description of the community in question and details of the survey which led to the present study see: ‘Anaemia in children; a survey in (Obadan) a rural community in the rain forest zone of Nigeria’, by Gregory I. Akenzua, John C. Ihongbe, Itohan W. Imasuen and Bennedict C. Nwobi (J. Trop. Pediatr., 31(1985), 1, p. 20-24). Ref., tab.