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Prevalence and factors associated with stunting among under-five years children in Simiyu Region, Tanzania: a population-based survey

David P. Ngilangwa1, Godfrey Matumu1, Benatus Sambili1

Amref Health Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

1st Amref Health Africa International ConferenceSafari Park Hotel, Nairobi Kenya

24-26th November, 2014

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Outline:

• Background

• Methods

• Results

• Conclusion

• Acknowledgments

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o Under nutrition is the threats to child survival.

o Globally,> 150m children are malnourishedo Malnutrition contributes to 35% of all <5

mortalities.

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oIn Tanzania; Stunting currently affects

42% of <5 children Tanzania ranks 3rd in Sub-

Saharan Africa for stunting. Over 3 million of children <5

yrs are estimated to be stunted

o Simiyu: New region No baseline data

on stunting.

Methods

• Objective To determine the prevalence and factors associated with

stuntingamong < 5 children in Simiyu region

• Study design • A population based cross-sectional survey.• Multistage sampling was used to;

i. Select 30 villages in all the five districts and appr 27 HHii. 806 HH were covered, each of which had at least one child aged 6-

59 months.

• 810 <5 yrs children were selected • Anthropometric measurements were taken

using WHO std tool;1. Low height for age (stunting)

• SPSS version 20 used for analysis.5

Results:Fig1.Stunting index distribution for children (6-59months)-Simiyu region, Of 781 children, 263 (33.7%)

were stunted (< 2 SD)

-Though, slightly lower than the national average of 42 %.

Moderate and severe stunting

accounted for 21.5% and 12.2%.

-While the severely stunted children is 17% at National level.

Stunting is highest (46.7%) in

children aged 18-23 and lowest

(11.3%) in children aged 9-11

months.-Prevalence for children aged 18-23, is slightly lower than the national average of 55%.

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Results: Anthropometry: measuring height

Stunting prevalence, higher in male

children (37.1%) as compared to

female ones (29.9%).

-Though, slightly lower than the national average

of 46% and 39%.

OR for female children to be stunted

as compared to male children (0.69)

-There was statistical evidence for the estimated

OR (p-value = 0.0224).

Age group; estimated OR to be

stunted was three times higher for

children aged- 18-23 months, 24-35 months and 36-47 months,

as compared with children aged 6 to 8 months.

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Anaemic children had higher probability to be stunted as compared to non-anaemic children (OR was 1.7, with p-value = 0.0132).

Results: Demographic characteristics…• Stunting is an indicator of chronic under-

nutrition;- Reflects failure to receive adequate nutrition, also

affected by recurrent and chronic illness.- Under nutrition is manifested at an early age.

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o What is so special ?- With ,33.7% prevalence of

stunting, Simiyu is better of the national average of 42.0% .But the public health significance of such prevalence is classified as HIGH by WHO.

Conclusion

• Timely and regular ANC visit

• Improving both quality and access to health services and medicationo Community sensitizationo Quality of medication and quality of health

education/counseling

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o Way forward:To address the problem;

Emphasis is on intensive nutrition and educational programmes among communities.

AcknowledgementThis study was supported

by

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o The Government of Canada

o The Government of Tanzania

o The community and PIT

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