Comparative Analysis of Iron Folate Tablet Content Uniformity Across Brands Dispensed at Antenatal Clinics in Enugu State

Iron and folate supplementation is a cornerstone of antenatal care in Nigeria, where maternal anaemia and neural tube defects remain significant contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity. The quality of iron-folate tablets dispensed at public antenatal clinics depends heavily on procurement standards and supplier compliance. This study compared the content uniformity of iron and folate in tablets from six brands dispensed at government antenatal clinics across Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Forty tablets per brand were individually analysed for iron content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and folate content by microbiological assay and UV spectrophotometry. Results were evaluated against USP content uniformity requirements. Two brands failed the iron content uniformity test, with relative standard deviations exceeding 6%, and one brand showed folate content averaging only 68% of the declared 0.4 mg per tablet. Tablet hardness and disintegration time were within acceptable ranges across all brands. These data indicate that some brands of iron-folate tablets procured for public health programmes in Enugu State fail basic quality standards, potentially compromising the effectiveness of antenatal supplementation. Strengthened pre-procurement quality testing and post-market surveillance by relevant authorities are recommended. Keywords: iron folate tablets, content uniformity, antenatal care, Enugu State, spectrophotometry.