Yvonne Tshiya^{1, 2,}, Happy Magoha²

Malnutrition among children below 5 years is a recognized problem worldwide and more so in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at finding the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among children of ages 6 to 59 months in Manyovu, Buhigwe District Kigoma, Tanzania. Knowledge of the prevalence of malnutrition and their risk factors in the community will serve the purpose of designing and implementing a program that targets this challenge with a view to ameliorating it. A total number of 362 children and their mothers were involved. Anthropometric data of children, breastfeeding practices, 24h dietary recall of both mothers and children and socio demographic/economic status of both parents and children were taken. The findings were as follows: underweight 9.7 %, stunting 43.1%, and 3.6% wasting. The risk factors found to be significant were education level of both parents, and earnings per month of both parents. Breastfeeding and dietary assessment did not have any statistical effect to malnutrition of the children possibly because of poor knowledge of nutrition and feeding practices. The children in the study were already consuming other food and were not only breastfeeding at the time they were recruited in the present study. Therefore, this study confirms the existence of child malnutrition in Manyovu and the surrounding communities. The level of malnutrition in this community is relatively high and requires a closer look with a view to determining strategies for mitigating them.

food frequency, malnutrition, weight for age z-score, weight for height z-score, anthropometric measurements