Maternal Anemia Emerges as a Potential Risk Factor for Anemia in Children Aged 6-59 Months in Tanzania: Evidence from the 2022 TDHS-MIS Cross-Sectional Household Survey

Abstract

Background: Various studies have explored the risk factors for anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months, but the effect of maternal anemia on child anemia has been less examined. This study sought to analyze the impact of maternal anemia on anemia in children in this age group in Tanzania. Methods: Data was extracted from the Tanzania TDHS-MIS 2022, conducted from March to July. A total of 2,500 children aged between 6 and 59 months were included in the final analysis. The analysis considered both univariate and multivariate odds ratios (COR and AOR, respectively), with a 95% CI, as determinants of anemia. Data was analyzed using R software. Results:The overall prevalence of anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months was 70.16% (95% CI = 68.32; 71.95), with 40.8% of cases classified as mild, 56.4% moderate, and 2.8% as severe. This prevalence was higher in children < 24 months (75.1%). In the model adjusted for other factors, maternal anemia emerged as a potential indicator for anemia in this age group, with an AOR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.18; 1.87) for mild anemia, 1.71 (95% CI: 1.32; 2.21) for moderate, and 2.14 (95% CI: 1.08; 4.26) for severe anemia. Furthermore, children under 24 months, males, with a recent history of diarrhea, in families with more than two children, and with mothers aged between 20 and 29 years, were more likely to develop anemia. On the other hand, children who received drugs for intestinal parasitosis in the last six months were less likely to have anemia. Conclusion:This study highlights the high prevalence of child anemia in Tanzania, especially in children under 24 months. Maternal anemia emergedas a significant potential predictor for child anemia. Targeted interventions that address both maternal and child health are crucial for reducing the prevalence of anemia and improving child health outcomes.