Nutritional status, complementary feeding practices and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Mkuranga district, Tanzania

Abstract

Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood IS fundamental to the development of each child's full human potential. The period from birth to two years of age is a critical window for the promotion of optimal growth, health and behavioral development. Despite the fact that WHO recommends all infants to be exclusively breastfed in their first six months of life, in Tanzania, only 68% of children less than 2 months of age are exclusively breastfed. A cross sectional study was therefore conducted in Mkuranga district, Coast region in July 2008 to determine nutritional status, complementary feeding practices and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months. A total of 219 mother-child pairs were randomly selected from one ward and invited for the interviews and weighing of their children. Findings show that 62.6% of the children were complemented below the age of six months. Regarding their nutritional status, 81 % had a normal weight for their age while 13% were underweight. Furthermore, the data shows that neither socio-demographic characteristics nor complementary feeding practices of the mothers have a significant influence on the nutritional status of the children. Despite majority of the infants and young children in the area having good nutritional status, early complementation is common and generally, the mothers' complementary feeding practices are contrary to those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is proposed that nutritional education on child feeding especially proper complementary feeding practices be emphasized among mothers in the study area.