Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anaemia and Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6-24 Months in Rural Tanzania
Naelijwa Mshanga1, Sally Moore2, Neema Kassim1
1School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania.
Insights
Anaemia and undernutrition are prevalent in Tanzanian children aged 6-24 months, with age being a key predictor. These findings highlight the need for age-specific nutrition programs in rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Global Health
Background:
- Anaemia and undernutrition are critical public health issues in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially impacting children under five.
- Tanzania faces high rates of anaemia and undernutrition in young children, with limited data on rural prevalence and determinants.
- This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of anaemia and undernutrition in children aged 6-24 months in rural Tanzania.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anaemia and undernutrition among children aged 6-24 months in Babati and Hanang districts, Tanzania.
- To identify the key determinants associated with anaemia and undernutrition in this population.
- To inform the development of targeted nutrition interventions for rural LMICs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 457 children aged 6-24 months.
- Haemoglobin concentration was measured using capillary blood samples.
- Anaemia and nutritional status (stunting, wasting, underweight) were classified using WHO guidelines.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates were: 32% anaemia, 32% stunting, 20% underweight, and 4% wasting.
- Only 33% of children met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) criteria.
- Children aged 13-24 months showed significantly higher odds of anaemia, stunting, and underweight.
- Male children were more likely to be wasted compared to female children.
- Age (13-24 months) emerged as a common predictor for anaemia, stunting, and underweight.
Conclusions:
- Age is a significant factor associated with both anaemia and undernutrition in young children in rural Tanzanian settings.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering age-specific factors when designing nutrition programs for similar populations.
- Targeted interventions addressing age-related nutritional risks are crucial for improving child health in LMICs.
Background:
Anaemia and undernutrition remain a significant public health problem in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly affecting under-five children. In Tanzania, the prevalence of anaemia and undernutrition in under-five children is still high; however, less is known about the prevalence and predictors of these conditions in rural areas. Therefore, the current cross-sectional study presents the prevalence and determinants of anaemia and undernutrition among 457 children aged 6-24 months in the Babati and Hanang districts of Tanzania.
Method:
Haemoglobin concentration was assessed through capillary blood samples. Anaemia was classified according to WHO 2011 guidelines using a cut-off of <11.0 g/dL for children under five, while the WHO 2006 growth indicators were used to classify the nutritional status (i.e., stunting, wasting and underweight).
Results:
The results from this study show that 32%, 32%, 20% and 4% of children aged 6-24 months were anaemic, stunted, underweight and wasted, respectively, while only 33% had an adequate minimum dietary diversity (MDD). In addition, the child's age (13-24 months) was significantly associated with anaemia (AOR: 2.1 95% CI 1.4, 3.1), stunting (AOR:17.4 95% CI 10.3, 29.4) and underweight (AOR: 15.9 95% CI 7.9, 32.0). Moreover, male children were three times more likely to be wasted (AOR: 3.5 95% CI 1.1, 10.9) than their female counterparts. Anaemia and stunting were the most prevalent nutritional disorders among 6-24-month-old children in the Hanang and Babati districts. Moreover, age (13-24 months) was found to be the common predictor for anaemia, stunting and underweight.
Conclusion:
The observed association between age and anaemia, as well as undernutrition, suggest that age may be an essential factor when designing nutrition-related programs in similar rural settings.
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