Undernutrition Among Under-Five Children in Two Fishing Communities in Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania

Abstract

Undernutrition and food insecurity are critical problems among under-five children in many developing countries. This study was carried out for eight months between 2009 and 2011. It combined quantitative data (N=156) and qualitative data to explore nutritional status among under-five children in Jibondo and Chole villages within Mafia Island Marine Park in Tanzania. Weight-for-age analysis was performed according to World Health Organization standards to determine the proportion of underweight children among the samples. The prevalence of underweight children was high in both villages, and in Jibondo village it was even higher (69%) than in Chole village (40%). Interviewees attributed the exceptionally high underweight problems in Jibondo to a substantial reduction in breast-feeding frequency. This was because mothers resumed seaweed farming and octopus fishing soon after delivery. Consequently, infants were fed poor-quality nutritional substitute foods at a tender age. Decreased family income, food insecurity, changes in gender roles and increased responsibilities for women were also perceived to be key underlying problems contributing to higher levels of undernutrition among children in the study areas. If healthy generations and sustainable social-ecological systems are to be achieved within the Park in the future, policies that review fishing restrictions, improve fish trading, increase household food security and liberate mother's time for breastfeeding and child-caring activities would be essential to address the current undernutrition among the under-fives.

Social-ecological Changes, Livelihoods and Resilience Among Fishing Communities in Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania

“…However, following their engagement in seaweed culture, middle-aged women at Jibondo were found to be financially stronger than some of the men and the interviewed female household heads revealed that they met their basic needs without assistance. This undermined women's capacity to carry out their role in children's upbringing and well-being, although it may also suggest an important role played by women in sustaining life at Jibondo (Hauzer et al, 2013;Moshy et al, 2013). However, women were cautious to reveal their actual earnings to their spouses, in trying to avoid being made to shoulder household maintenance or in fear of men using their income for personal interests such as paying bride price for another wife.…”

“…MIMP SESs is in a relatively good condition (Baker, 2013;URT, 2011), which is desired by conservationists, government and tourism operators, while the social part experience poor and undesired conditions (Benjaminsen and Bryceson, 2012;Moshy et al, 2013;Mwaipopo, 2008;Walley, 2004). Although park authorities are urged to ensure that the needs of resource-dependent communities are met (Marshall et al 2009), the real challenges of day-to-day life within the MIMP have resulted in increased hardship and poverty.…”

“…The suggestion by Foale et al (2013) on including food security programmes in conservation actions in MPAs holds. This is because majority of villagers were incapable of meeting the requirements for food security, and Moshy et al (2013) reported their children to have poor nutritional status that can have serious implications for their well-being and SER.…”

“There Is No Cultivable Land Here”: Food Security and the Politics of Coral Rag Cultivation in Jibondo Island, Tanzania

“…It was also argued that since the introduction of jeans clothing, men do not go to farms after they returned from fishing trips. Moshy, Masenge, and Bryceson (2013) also found that, men spent nonfishing time visiting the main Island at Kilindoni for shopping to catch-up to the current fashion trends; thus, they usually lacked time to mend their fishing nets. Apart from fencing, the elderly men who continued with cultivation also opted for surveillance strategy whereby temporary palm huts were built at Mchanganyuma for them to spend daylight hours there to watch over their crops from damage and theft (Interview 13, 2010).…”

The contribution of fish to nutrition and food security: informing the evidence base for agricultural policy in Bangladesh

“…However, if women's engagement in the value chain reduces their time available to contribute to care and feeding practices of children this may have detrimental impacts on nutrition. For example, a study in Tanzania attributed poor infant nutritional status to reductions in breastfeeding rates which occurred following an intervention which led women to become involved in fisheries activities soon after giving birth (Moshy et al, 2013).…”