Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem. All health care professionals need to be knowledgeable and competent in nutrition as it applies to health promotion, prevention and treatment of acute and chronic diseases. Nutrition intervention is an important component in optimizing diet among CKD patients. However, there is limited information on the nutrition knowledge on management of CKD among healthcare workers in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. This study assessed nutrition knowledge, attitudes and current practices of healthcare workers in management of patients with CKD in selected hospitals. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted amongst 133 healthcare workers in renal units in selected hospitals from December 2011 to March 2012. Hospitals were purposively selected based on the availability of renal care services in the facility. Nutrition knowledge and practices were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Knowledge levels were categorised as > 61 % "adequate"41-60 % "moderate" and 1-40 % "low". Attitudes were measured using a 5 Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Chi-square was used to test the relationship between categorical variables. A p -value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean nutrition knowledge score among health care workers was 9.8 (SD 3.12). There was a significant difference in the nutrition knowledge among carders (p ≤ 0.001). Medical specialists had a higher mean score (13.75) compared to medical doctors and nurses with mean scores 12.05 and 9.51 respectively. Other cadres had lower mean score of 8.65. Likert scale showed that 94 % had positive attitudes on the role of nutrition in preventing and treating diseases. Most of respondents (92 %) did not use any nutrition guidelines. Nutrition management were discussed occasionally during ward rounds. There were significant relationship between age group (χ 2 = 16.69; p = 0.01), work experience (χ 2 = 18.61; p < 0.01) and nutrition knowledge of participants.

Iron deficiency anaemia remains a public health problem, particularly in children aged 6–59 months. This study assessed factors associated with iron deficiency anaemia among children aged 6–23 months, 24–59 months and 6–59 months in Tanzania. Data for this cross-sectional study were extracted from the 2015–16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2015–16 TDHS-MIS). The study covered 8014 children aged 6–59 months and their mothers. Iron deficiency anaemia was defined (haemoglobin < 11g/dL). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses that adjust for clustering and sampling weights were conducted to describe the associations between anaemia and potential confounding variables. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among children aged 6–23 months, 24–59 months and 6–59 months were 76%, 49% and 59%, respectively. Factors associated with increased odds of iron deficiency anaemia among children aged 6–23 months included a mother being employed, being a male child, child perceived to small size at birth by mothers, a mother being anaemic and children belonging to the poorest socio-economic quintile. In addition, being a mother with no schooling, children not being dewormed, a mother being anaemic, delivering a baby at home, child fever and stunting, were factors associated with increased odds of iron deficiency anaemia among children aged 24–59 months. Factors associated with increased odds of iron deficiency anaemia among children aged 6–59 months were: a mother being employed, being a mother with no schooling, being a male child, belonging to the 6–59 months age bracket, a mother having a BMI of between 19 and 25 kg/m2, a mother being anaemic, having a baby at home, children belonging to bigger households, child fever and stunting. Interventions to minimise the burden of iron deficiency anaemia in children should target employed and/or anaemic mothers, poor and rich households, as well as male children.