Mothers Education and Children’s Nutrition Outcomes in Tanzania

Abstract

Childhood malnutrition continues to be a pressing concern in sub-Saharan African countries, as it affects millions of children. Despite numerous efforts to mitigate malnutrition, this problem persists. We investigated the effects of mothers' education on the nutritional status of children aged 0-59 months in Tanzania using data from the 2020/21 National Panel Survey. Three indicators of childhood malnutrition were assessed: stunting, underweight, and wasting. Chi-square Test statistics were used to estimate the association between childhood nutritional status and the categorical variables of mothers' education. For the analysis, the study employed binary logistic regression to examine the relationship between mothers' education and childhood nutrition status. The findings revealed that higher levels of maternal and paternal education reduce the probability of child stunting, underweight, and wasting.  Furthermore, occupation of the head of the household and living in urban areas is associated with a decreased probability of child stunting, wasting, and underweight.  Based on these findings, the study advocates for policy interventions that enhance educational opportunities for women and girls and improve healthcare services, particularly in rural areas. The research also recommends government and stakeholder involvement in creating employment opportunities and ensuring the economic stability of families.