Mrema Jackline D, Elisaria Ester, Mwanri Akwilina W, Nyaruhucha Cornelio M
Ifakara Health Institute, Department of Health System, Impact Evaluation and Policy, P.O. Box 78373, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, Tanzania.
J Nutr Metab. 2021 Apr 11;2021:6627557. doi: 10.1155/2021/6627557. eCollection 2021.
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.
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.
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 ( < 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).
The prevalence of undernutrition, especially 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.
在发展中国家，营养不良是儿童中最主要的营养不足形式。在坦桑尼亚进行的研究报告称，五岁以下儿童中存在高度营养不良的情况。然而，关于不同农业生态区域发育迟缓患病率差异的信息有限。本研究旨在确定坦桑尼亚基洛萨区低地和高地地区营养不良的患病率及其决定因素。
在坦桑尼亚莫罗戈罗地区基洛萨区低地随机抽取的200户家庭和高地的141户家庭中进行了一项横断面研究。使用结构化问卷收集社会人口统计学、喂养习惯、卫生和环境卫生数据。按照标准程序测量儿童的体重和身高，并根据儿童生长卡上的出生日期计算年龄。使用紧急营养评估（ENA）软件分析人体测量数据。采用逻辑回归模型探讨营养不良的决定因素。
低地地区发育迟缓、体重不足和消瘦的患病率分别为41.0%、11.5%和2.5%，高地地区分别为64.5%、22.0%和1.4%。与低地地区相比，高地地区发育迟缓和体重不足的患病率更高（<0.001）。体重不足显著的决定因素是居住地区（比值比4.21，95%置信区间：1.62 - 10.9）、儿童年龄（比值比5.85，95%置信区间：1.81 - 18.97）和儿童出生体重（比值比4.98，95%置信区间：1.65 - 15.05），而发育迟缓的决定因素是居住地区（比值比2.77，95%置信区间：1.43 - 5.36）、母亲年龄（比值比0.33，95%置信区间：0.14 - 0.79）、儿童性别（比值比1.89，95%置信区间：1.
