Factors associated with stunting among children in Mvomero district Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Under nutrition has been a major problem in developing countries including Tanzania; hence, contributing to about half of the deaths among young children. Objective: The current study aimed at identifying child feeding practices and determinants of stunting in children under the age of five years in Mvomero District. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 150 mother-child pairs was carried out in Turiani ward, Mvomero district in Morogoro region. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with stunting. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered sta­tistically significant. Five focus group discussions comprising 5–9 mothers with children below five years participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data from the in-depth interviews. Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting in Mvomero district was 16.8, 42.2, and 6.2% respectively. Pre-lacteal feeding was common in the study area (40%). Children were introduced to complementary food too early (˂6 months) with plain maize porridge being the first food introduced. About 57.2% of children were on the lowest tercile (≤3 food groups per day) dietary diversity score. Significant determinants of stunting were the family source of income (AOR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.99–2.3), age of a child (AOR 2.66, 95% CI: 1.03–3.50) and family size (AOR 3.22, 95% CI: 1.61–4.27). Other factors were consumption of animal foods (AOR 5.30, 95% CI: 0.26–0.60) and dietary diversity score (AOR 1.615, 95% CI: 1.014–2.574). Conclusion: Child feeding practices in the study area are sub-optimal. These findings have important implications for interventions to address stunting among children.