Feeding practices, dietary adequacy, and dietary diversities among caregivers with under-five children: A descriptive cross-section study in Dodoma region, Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction Suboptimal feeding practices among caregivers contribute to nutritional-related health problems in children in low and middle-income countries, such as Tanzania. The continuum of the recommended feeding practices has been an utmost challenge among caregivers during the transition from health facilities to homes for improved under-five children’s health. Objective This study assessed feeding practices, dietary diversities, and dietary adequacy among caregivers with under-five children in the Dodoma region, Tanzania. Methods A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study in a quantitative research approach was adopted to study 289 randomly selected caregivers of under-five children in Dodoma region, Tanzania from March to August 2022. The World Health Organization Infant and Young Children Feeding Guidelines was the main data collection tool. Data were analyzed descriptively using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer software program version 25. Statistical limits were set at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level. Results Mean age was 26±6.47 of which 68.2% (n = 197) were females. Findings revealed 66.1% of caregivers had unsatisfactory feeding practices. It was observed that 67.8% of the caregivers fed their under-five children inadequately. Only 32.2% of them attained the minimum dietary diversity while 35.3% and 31.5% of caregivers demonstrated feeding practices < and > the recommended minimum Dietary diversity respectively. Moreover, 90.7% of caregivers fed their children group one food while 59.1% of them did not practice feeding the children snacks between meals. Feeding practice, dietary diversity, and dietary adequacy were significantly related to the caregiver’s sex, education level, and socioeconomic status (p<0.05). Conclusion Under-five children are at serious risk of nutritional problems as most caregivers in this study demonstrated unsatisfactory feeding practices on dietary diversities for dietary adequacy below the world health organization recommended Minimum Dietary diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency. Community-based nutritional education programs for caregivers need to be disseminated to the community level to address the problem accordingly.

Knowledge, attitude, intentional practice and individualized determinants of COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among adults: A cross‐sectional study in Tanzania

“…As shown in Table 1 , the study involved 312 out of 12,584 randomly sampled adults in the Dodoma region. As it has also been used by some previous studies (Millanzi, 2022 ; Millanzi et al., 2020 , 2021 ; Millanzi, Herman, & Ambrose, 2023 ; Millanzi, Herman, & Mtangi, 2023 ; Millanzi, Osaki, et al., 2023 ; Mwanja et al., 2023 ; Shitindi et al., 2023 ), a proportionate formula was adopted based on the available number and level of health facilities that were stratified into dispensaries ( n = 1: in one district) health centres ( n = 2: in three districts), district hospitals ( n = 2: in 6 districts) and referral hospital ( n = 1: in Dodoma region). A simple random sampling technique by lottery methods was used to get study participants.…”

“…The tools were confirmed to be clear and no further editing and deletion of the items were done, but it was translated into the Swahili language to blend to the literacy level of the study participants. As suggested by previous scholars (Millanzi, Herman, & Ambrose, 2023 ; Millanzi, Herman, & Mtangi, 2023 ; Mwanja et al., 2023 ; Shitindi et al., 2023 ), the data collection tool was pre‐tested among 30 adults aged 18 years and above at a different location from where the actual data collection was conducted to assure its validity and reliability. Respondents filled all items in the questionnaires entirely.…”

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Since early 2019, the world has experienced the extensive spread of the coronavirus pandemic that has impersonated major threats to global health, the function of global health operations and services (Millanzi, Herman, & Ambrose, 2023). The coronavirus (COVID-19) remained to be a global threat to health industries for more than 2 years after being confirmed as a public health emergency of international concern (Galanis et al, 2022).

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Prevalence, knowledge, attitude, motivators and intentional practice of female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age: a community-based analytical cross-sectional study in Tanzania

“…1 , fifty-six respondents were not involved in the study and therefore, 324 respondents were finally analyzed. As recommended by previous scholars [ 22 , 23 ], the sample was proportionally distributed in stratum based on the selected secondary schools, classes, and year of study based on the number of students using the proportionate formula [ 24 ] .

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“…Chi-square and cross-tabulation were used to determine the relationship between variables. As it has been used by previous studies [ 30 , 31 ] shown in the statistical formula number two (2), a binary and multinomial logistic regression model was performed to determine the association between the predictor variables and the outcome of interest under study at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.…”