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
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi
Abstract
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, es-
pecially 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.
Description
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 2021, Article ID 6627557, 9 pages
Keywords
Undernutrition, Months-Old-Children, Lowland, Highland Areas, Cross-Sectional Study, Tanzania