In this study, 88 newly diagnosed children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were retrospectively analyzed for their treatment outcome. The patients included 51 boys and 37 girls, aged from four months to 14 years 11 months (median, seven years one month). The treatment consisted of chemotherapy using protocols which were standard at the time of diagnosis (1978-1991). Cerebrospinal fluid was not routinely examined. Fever with neutropenia was treated with empiric combination antibiotics, and anemia and thrombocytopenia were treated with blood components. Non-compliance was frequent; it was estimated that only 35.6% of all patients followed the given instructions. For the overall group (n = 57), 50.9% achieved confirmed complete remission. Median remission duration was five months and survival time was 11 months. The probability of continuous remission at 24 months was 20.9%. For the compliant group (n = 31), 51.6% attained complete remission, with a median remission duration of 14 months. The probability of continuous remission at 24 months was 44.5%, and the median survival time was six months. Early death occurred in 21.1% of all patients, 38.7% of compliant patients and 85.7% of acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. This study demonstrates how supportive treatment, socioeconomic factors and chemotherapy interact and affect the treatment outcome of ANLL in children.