Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Undernutrition is the most dominant form of malnutrition among children in developing countries. Studies conducted in Tanzania have reported high levels of undernutrition among children below five years of age. However, there is limited information on differences in stunting prevalence a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jackline D. Mrema, Ester Elisaria, Akwilina W. Mwanri, Cornelio M. Nyaruhucha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627557
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832563302666862592
author Jackline D. Mrema
Ester Elisaria
Akwilina W. Mwanri
Cornelio M. Nyaruhucha
author_facet Jackline D. Mrema
Ester Elisaria
Akwilina W. Mwanri
Cornelio M. Nyaruhucha
author_sort Jackline D. Mrema
collection DOAJ
description Background. Undernutrition is the most dominant form of malnutrition among children in developing countries. Studies conducted in Tanzania have reported high levels of undernutrition among children below five years of age. However, there is limited information on differences in stunting prevalence across agroecological zones. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and its determinants in the lowland and highland areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 200 randomly selected households from the lowland and 141 from the highland areas of Kilosa District in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Sociodemographic, feeding practices, hygiene, and sanitation data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Weight and height of children were measured using a standard procedure, and age was calculated from the birth date obtained from the child growth card. Anthropometric data were analyzed by using Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) software. The logistic regression model was used to explore the determinants of undernutrition. Results. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 41.0%, 11.5%, and 2.5% in lowland and 64.5%, 22.0%, and 1.4% in highland areas, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and underweight was higher in the highland compared to the lowland areas (p<0.001). Significant determinants of underweight were areas of residence (AOR 4.21, 95% CI: 1.62–10.9), age of the children (AOR 5.85, 95% CI: 1.81–18.97), and child birth weight (AOR, 4.98 95% CI: 1.65–15.05), while determinants of stunting were the area of residence (AOR, 2.77 95% CI: 1.43–5.36), maternal age (AOR, 0.33 95% CI: 0.14–0.79), sex of a child (AOR, 1.89 95% CI: 1.03–3.50), and child birth weight (AOR, 3.29 95% CI: 1.21–8.97). Conclusion. The prevalence of undernutrition, especially stunting and underweight, was high in the study areas. Determinants of stunting differed between highlands and lowland areas, highlighting the needs of having properly integrated interventions based on the geographical location.
format Article
id doaj-art-90775c38815349bf8179ea4a47aafed5
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-0724
2090-0732
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
spelling doaj-art-90775c38815349bf8179ea4a47aafed52025-02-03T01:20:32ZengWileyJournal of Nutrition and Metabolism2090-07242090-07322021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66275576627557Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional StudyJackline D. Mrema0Ester Elisaria1Akwilina W. Mwanri2Cornelio M. Nyaruhucha3Ifakara Health Institute, Department of Health System, Impact Evaluation and Policy, P.O. Box 78373, Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaIfakara Health Institute, Department of Health System, Impact Evaluation and Policy, P.O. Box 78373, Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, TanzaniaBackground. Undernutrition is the most dominant form of malnutrition among children in developing countries. Studies conducted in Tanzania have reported high levels of undernutrition among children below five years of age. However, there is limited information on differences in stunting prevalence across agroecological zones. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and its determinants in the lowland and highland areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 200 randomly selected households from the lowland and 141 from the highland areas of Kilosa District in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Sociodemographic, feeding practices, hygiene, and sanitation data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Weight and height of children were measured using a standard procedure, and age was calculated from the birth date obtained from the child growth card. Anthropometric data were analyzed by using Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) software. The logistic regression model was used to explore the determinants of undernutrition. Results. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 41.0%, 11.5%, and 2.5% in lowland and 64.5%, 22.0%, and 1.4% in highland areas, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and underweight was higher in the highland compared to the lowland areas (p<0.001). Significant determinants of underweight were areas of residence (AOR 4.21, 95% CI: 1.62–10.9), age of the children (AOR 5.85, 95% CI: 1.81–18.97), and child birth weight (AOR, 4.98 95% CI: 1.65–15.05), while determinants of stunting were the area of residence (AOR, 2.77 95% CI: 1.43–5.36), maternal age (AOR, 0.33 95% CI: 0.14–0.79), sex of a child (AOR, 1.89 95% CI: 1.03–3.50), and child birth weight (AOR, 3.29 95% CI: 1.21–8.97). Conclusion. The prevalence of undernutrition, especially stunting and underweight, was high in the study areas. Determinants of stunting differed between highlands and lowland areas, highlighting the needs of having properly integrated interventions based on the geographical location.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627557
spellingShingle Jackline D. Mrema
Ester Elisaria
Akwilina W. Mwanri
Cornelio M. Nyaruhucha
Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
title Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Prevalence and Determinants of Undernutrition among 6- to 59-Months-Old Children in Lowland and Highland Areas in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among 6 to 59 months old children in lowland and highland areas in kilosa district tanzania a cross sectional study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627557
work_keys_str_mv AT jacklinedmrema prevalenceanddeterminantsofundernutritionamong6to59monthsoldchildreninlowlandandhighlandareasinkilosadistricttanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy
AT esterelisaria prevalenceanddeterminantsofundernutritionamong6to59monthsoldchildreninlowlandandhighlandareasinkilosadistricttanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy
AT akwilinawmwanri prevalenceanddeterminantsofundernutritionamong6to59monthsoldchildreninlowlandandhighlandareasinkilosadistricttanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy
AT corneliomnyaruhucha prevalenceanddeterminantsofundernutritionamong6to59monthsoldchildreninlowlandandhighlandareasinkilosadistricttanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy