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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and risk factors for poor nutritional status among children in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania
AU - Abubakar, Amina
AU - Uriyo, Jacqueline
AU - Msuya, Sia E.
AU - Swai, Mark
AU - Stray-Pedersen, Babill
N1 - This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - The current study investigated the prevalence and risk factors for poor nutritional status among children less than 36 months of age in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Using a cross sectional study design, children and their caregivers were recruited into the study. Anthropometric measures were taken based on established protocol while a standard questionnaire was utilized to collect socio-demographic data. A finger-prick blood sample was collected from all the children and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration analyzed using a HemoCue photometer (HemoCue AB, Angelholm, Sweden). Four hundred and twenty three (423) children (214 females) took part in this study. Participating children were aged between 1–35 months (mean = 13.04, SD = 7.70). We observed high rates of stunting (44.2%) and underweight (19.1%). Nearly 70% (n = 295) of the sample was anaemic (Hb < 11 g/dL). In a multivariate logistic regression model concerns on child growth, maternal education, and child's age were found to independently predict stunting; whereas concerns over child's growth and development, and distance to water source were found to uniquely predict being underweight. Maternal education was the only factor related to the child's anaemia. The current study further emphasizes the need to implement context relevant interventions to combat malnutrition in this region of Tanzania and other similar settings.
AB - The current study investigated the prevalence and risk factors for poor nutritional status among children less than 36 months of age in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Using a cross sectional study design, children and their caregivers were recruited into the study. Anthropometric measures were taken based on established protocol while a standard questionnaire was utilized to collect socio-demographic data. A finger-prick blood sample was collected from all the children and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration analyzed using a HemoCue photometer (HemoCue AB, Angelholm, Sweden). Four hundred and twenty three (423) children (214 females) took part in this study. Participating children were aged between 1–35 months (mean = 13.04, SD = 7.70). We observed high rates of stunting (44.2%) and underweight (19.1%). Nearly 70% (n = 295) of the sample was anaemic (Hb < 11 g/dL). In a multivariate logistic regression model concerns on child growth, maternal education, and child's age were found to independently predict stunting; whereas concerns over child's growth and development, and distance to water source were found to uniquely predict being underweight. Maternal education was the only factor related to the child's anaemia. The current study further emphasizes the need to implement context relevant interventions to combat malnutrition in this region of Tanzania and other similar settings.
KW - Adult
KW - Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
KW - Body Height
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Educational Status
KW - Female
KW - Hemoglobins
KW - Humans
KW - Infant
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Male
KW - Mothers
KW - Nutritional Status
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Tanzania
KW - Thinness
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph9103506
DO - 10.3390/ijerph9103506
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23202759
VL - 9
SP - 3506
EP - 3518
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 10
ER -