Reducing the burden of anemia in infants and young children in malaria-endemic countries of Africa: from evidence to action.

Anemia is one of the commonest and most intractable public health problems in Africa. This paper illustrates how, in areas of stable malaria transmission, anemia is apparent from the first few months of life, with the highest prevalence towards the end of the first year. The antenatal and postnatal factors predisposing to anemia in infants and young children are discussed, together with the interventions that are available for prevention. The paper stresses the need to target interventions at pregnant women and infants, the groups at highest risk of anemia, and to develop an integrated, non disease-specific approach to this complex problem.