American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 23, 224-230, Copyright © 1970 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Seasonal Incidence of Anemia in Pregnancy in Ibadan

¹ From the Sub-department of Hematology, Ibadan University, Ibadan, Nigeria

There was a distinct seasonal incidence of severe anemia in pregnancy and the puerperium seen in Ibadan during the years studied (1961-1964), with a maximum between May and July each year when up to 47 patients may be seen in 1 month. The variation of incidence was the result of folate deficiency at a time of food shortage, and was not due to an increase of malarial transmission or hemolysis.

It is suggested that the fall in the incidence of folate deficiency seen about August follows the harvesting of the new yam crop.

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