Use of iron supplements in infancy: a field trial.

Iron-deficiency anaemia in infancy, which is an important public health problem even in countries where gross malnutrition is not prevalent, can be prevented by iron supplementation or by fortification of infant foods with iron. A programme of iron supplementation was carried out in two places in Israel through the Maternal and Child Health services in the course of their routine duties. Though 89% of the mothers complied and gave iron supplements to their infants for a period of 1-9 months, only 26% continued for the full 9 months. A stastically significant difference was found in the haemoglobin and mean erythrocyte volume levels between the iron-supplemented group and the controls. The results indicate that the use of a higher daily dose of iron for a shorter period might lead to better compliance and greater benefits.