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Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anaemia and Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6–24 Months in Rural Tanzania

Author

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  • Naelijwa Mshanga

    (School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania)

  • Sally Moore

    (School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Neema Kassim

    (School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania)

  • Carolyn I. Auma

    (School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Yun Yun Gong

    (School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Haikael D. Martin

    (School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania)

Abstract

Background: Anaemia and undernutrition remain a significant public health problem in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly affecting under-five children. In Tanzania, the prevalence of anaemia and undernutrition in under-five children is still high; however, less is known about the prevalence and predictors of these conditions in rural areas. Therefore, the current cross-sectional study presents the prevalence and determinants of anaemia and undernutrition among 457 children aged 6–24 months in the Babati and Hanang districts of Tanzania. Method: Haemoglobin concentration was assessed through capillary blood samples. Anaemia was classified according to WHO 2011 guidelines using a cut-off of <11.0 g/dL for children under five, while the WHO 2006 growth indicators were used to classify the nutritional status (i.e., stunting, wasting and underweight). Results: The results from this study show that 32%, 32%, 20% and 4% of children aged 6–24 months were anaemic, stunted, underweight and wasted, respectively, while only 33% had an adequate minimum dietary diversity (MDD). In addition, the child’s age (13–24 months) was significantly associated with anaemia (AOR: 2.1 95% CI 1.4, 3.1), stunting (AOR:17.4 95% CI 10.3, 29.4) and underweight (AOR: 15.9 95% CI 7.9, 32.0). Moreover, male children were three times more likely to be wasted (AOR: 3.5 95% CI 1.1, 10.9) than their female counterparts. Anaemia and stunting were the most prevalent nutritional disorders among 6–24-month-old children in the Hanang and Babati districts. Moreover, age (13–24 months) was found to be the common predictor for anaemia, stunting and underweight. Conclusion: The observed association between age and anaemia, as well as undernutrition, suggest that age may be an essential factor when designing nutrition-related programs in similar rural settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Naelijwa Mshanga & Sally Moore & Neema Kassim & Carolyn I. Auma & Yun Yun Gong & Haikael D. Martin, 2025. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anaemia and Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6–24 Months in Rural Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(6), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:6:p:962-:d:1682592
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melina Mgongo & Nikolas A. S. Chotta & Tamara H. Hashim & Jacqueline G. Uriyo & Damian J. Damian & Babill Stray-Pedersen & Sia E. Msuya & Margareta Wandel & Siri Vangen, 2017. "Underweight, Stunting and Wasting among Children in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania; a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Bruno F. Sunguya & Si Zhu & Linda Simon Paulo & Bupe Ntoga & Fatma Abdallah & Vincent Assey & Rose Mpembeni & Jiayan Huang, 2020. "Regional Disparities in the Decline of Anemia and Remaining Challenges among Children in Tanzania: Analyses of the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2004–2015," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
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