Anemia, iron supplementation and susceptibility to plasmodium falciparum malaria
Anemia and malaria constitute major health problems worldwide, especially in tropical countries with low resources (WHO, 2008a, 2008b; Black et al., 2003). Although there are several potential causes of anemia, iron deficiency constitutes approximately half of all cases (WHO, 2008a, 2008b). Other important causal factors include parasitic infections such as malaria or helminth infections, hemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency, traumatic childbirth, as well as other nutritional deficiencies (WHO/UNICEF/UNU, 2001).