Contribution of fish in improving micronutrients content in complementary foods for children aged 6 to 23 months in Lindi Rural District
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
Lindi region has high stunting prevalence of about 35%, and one of the factors that cause stunting is
inadequate intake of micronutrients for children under 2 years old. This study aimed at assessing
contribution of fish in improving micronutrients, specifically vitamin A, zinc and iron contents in
complementary foods for children aged 6 to 23 months old children in Lindi Rural District. A cross-
sectional study was done; interviews were conducted on 212 caregivers with children aged 6 to 23
months at Mchinga Ward. Information collected includes demographic information and commonly
consumed complementary foods for targeted children through the use of 24 h dietary recall. Also,
laboratory analysis for zinc, iron, vitamin A contents and proximate composition were done for
commonly consumed foods. About 89.2% of children were given fish-based complementary foods. On
average, fish-based complementary foods had higher vitamin A concentrations (279 μg RE/100 g
serving) compared to non-fish-based complementary foods (4 μg RE/100 g serving), but low in iron and
zinc concentrations (0.66 and 0.067 mg/100 g serving, respectively) than non-fish-based complementary
foods (0.74 and 0.074 mg/100 g serving respectively). Furthermore, fish-based complementary foods
had higher proximate composition (except for % moisture content) compared to non-fish-based
complementary foods.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Lindi, Fish, Complementary foods, Children, Micronutrients
Citation
DOI: 10.5897/AJFS2021.2086