Megan Huang1, Christopher Sudfeld1, Abbas Ismail2, Said Vuai2, Julius Ntwenya2, Mary Mwanyika-Sando3, Wafaie Fawzi1,2,3,4. 1. 1 Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 2. 2 University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania. 3. 3 Africa Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 4. 4 Department of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of maternal dietary diversity in rural Dodoma, Tanzania and assess its association with child growth outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 361 mothers with children under 24 months of age was conducted in 5 villages in rural Dodoma, Tanzania. Maternal diets were assessed using food frequency questionnaires, and dietary diversity was categorized using Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) guidelines. Child anthropometric measures were taken to calculate height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ). Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the association between maternal dietary diversity and children's growth outcomes. RESULTS: About 40% of mothers did not consume a diverse diet (MDD-W < 5), and 35% of children were stunted. Household production of greater number of crops was associated with greater MDD-W scores ( P < .01). Greater maternal dietary diversity was associated with significantly greater child WHZ (mean difference = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.78; P = .01), WAZ (mean difference = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.08-0.65; P = .01), and reduced risk of wasting (odds ratio = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.66; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Greater maternal dietary diversity was associated with improved child WHZ and WAZ outcomes. Sustainable interventions to increase maternal dietary diversity may improve WHZ and WAZ in young children in similar settings.
OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of maternal dietary diversity in rural Dodoma, Tanzania and assess its association with child growth outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 361 mothers with children under 24 months of age was conducted in 5 villages in rural Dodoma, Tanzania. Maternal diets were assessed using food frequency questionnaires, and dietary diversity was categorized using Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) guidelines. Child anthropometric measures were taken to calculate height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ). Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the association between maternal dietary diversity and children's growth outcomes. RESULTS: About 40% of mothers did not consume a diverse diet (MDD-W < 5), and 35% of children were stunted. Household production of greater number of crops was associated with greater MDD-W scores ( P < .01). Greater maternal dietary diversity was associated with significantly greater child WHZ (mean difference = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.78; P = .01), WAZ (mean difference = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.08-0.65; P = .01), and reduced risk of wasting (odds ratio = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.66; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Greater maternal dietary diversity was associated with improved child WHZ and WAZ outcomes. Sustainable interventions to increase maternal dietary diversity may improve WHZ and WAZ in young children in similar settings.
Entities:
Keywords:
child growth; dietary diversity; malnutrition; maternal and child nutrition
Authors: Mia M Blakstad; Dominic Mosha; Lilia Bliznashka; Alexandra L Bellows; Chelsey R Canavan; Mashavu H Yussuf; Killian Mlalama; Isabel Madzorera; Jarvis T Chen; Ramadhani A Noor; Joyce Kinabo; Honorati Masanja; Wafaie W Fawzi Journal: Food Policy Date: 2022-03-21 Impact factor: 6.080
Authors: Mia M Blakstad; Dominic Mosha; Alexandra L Bellows; Chelsey R Canavan; Jarvis T Chen; Killian Mlalama; Ramadhani A Noor; Joyce Kinabo; Honorati Masanja; Wafaie W Fawzi Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2020-11-26 Impact factor: 3.092