Abstract:
This study aimed to determine nutrition status, nutrient adequacy and feeding practices of
infants and young children among pastoralist and crop farming communities. A cross-
sectional study design was adopted. A total of 348 caregivers of children between 0 to 23
months old were randomly sampled from Dakawa and Lubungo in Mvomero district,
Morogoro region. Among these, 206 caregivers were from crop farming and 142 were
from pastoralist communities. ProPAN standardized research tools and procedures were
adopted for data collection. Socio-demographic and feeding practices information were
collected using caregiver survey. Semi-structured interview and opportunistic observation
were conducted to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data from caregiver survey and
24- hour dietary recall were processed using ProPAN software in which descriptive
statistics, t-test and Chi-square test were done by SPSS version 21 software. Qualitative
data from semi structured interview and opportunistic observation were manually
analysed using the ProPAN matrices. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were
integrated qualitatively to identify facilitators and barriers to ideal feeding practices.
Relatively high proportion of crop farmers (66.5%) initiated breastfeeding within one hour
after delivery compared to about 35% in pastoralists. Pre-lacteal feeding was more
common among pastoralists (37%) compared to crop farmers (22%). Plant-based foods
were the most common complementary foods reported. There was inadequate intake of
calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A from complementary foods in both populations. Limited
knowledge on infant and young children‟s nutrition needs and cultural restrictions which
forbid consumption of some nutritionally dense foods were among the barriers to optimal
infant and young child feeding practices. High proportions of children in pastoralist than
in crop farming community were underweight and wasted. Stunting was 34% in crop
farming community and 32.7% in pastoralist community. To promote optimum feeding
practices in both communities, stakeholders should consider planning programs on
educating community while addressing cultural specific barriers
