Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among under-five children in Gairo district in Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: In Tanzania, under-nutrition is of most public concern as it affects human productivity in several areas like increasing economic costs to families and the country as a whole and impairing learning. Therefore this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among under-five children in Gairo district, Morogoro. Findings from the study will help policymakers, and local and international organizations in designing appropriate nutrition policies and interventions to address undernutrition in rural areas.

Methods: A household-based cross-sectional study was employed involving 300 under-five children with their mothers/caretakers in three wards in Gairo district. A structured questionnaire was used and anthropometric measurements were performed using standard procedures. Odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value at <=0.05 was used to identify factors associated with undernutrition.

Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of stunting was 54.3% (severe stunting 26.3% and moderate stunting 28%), underweight 23.3% (severe underweight 7% and moderate underweight 16.3%) and wasting 3.7% (severe wasting 1.3% and moderate wasting 2.4%).

Conclusion: The main factors that showed positive association were being a male, maternal occupation, child’s age, maternal education, birth weight, and illness in the past one month, area of residence, maternal age, and time of introduction of solid foods and leaving a child when being outside. The prevalence of stunting and underweight in the study area was higher compared to the national and regional prevalence. Thus due attention is needed while much attention should be given to the factors that showed a positive association.