Anaemia is a global public health issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anaemia and to identify factors associated with the condition among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted with 420 pregnant women (<28 weeks of gestation) attending antenatal visits in the 7 districts of the Mbeya Region. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and eating habits using a 24hours dietary recall. A blood sample was collected and tested for hemoglobin content using the HemoCue 201+. Multivariate analysis was performed using standard logistic regression to explore the association between anaemia status with socio-demographic, reproductive and nutritional factors. Overall prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women was 25.5%. Out of 107 pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia and, sixty six had mild anaemia. In a multivariate logistical regression analysis anaemic women was associated with pregnant women coming from lower socio-economic status [adjusted OR = 2.40, 95%CI (1.05, 5.48)]. Moreover, anaemia was less associated with pregnant women who were living in Mbeya district council [adjusted OR = 0.28, 95%CI (0.11, 0.72)], consume at least once a day dark green leafy vegetables [adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.30, 0.94)], and vegetable liquid cooking oil [adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI (0.34, 0.98)]. The prevalence of anaemia among the pregnant women falls in the category of moderate public health problem according to the WHO classification. Low socio-economic status, consumption of green leafy vegetables and vegetable liquid cooking oil were significantly and independently associated with anaemia during pregnancy. Thus, special attention should be given to pregnant women who are in lower socio-economic status and those not consuming vegetables. Interventions that integrate health and nutrition education in reproductive and child health clinics are needed to combat anaemia.

This study aimed to examine associations of dietary quality and diversity among reproductive-aged women with overweight and obesity. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Health and Demographic Surveillance System of the Dar es Salaam Urban Cohort Study (DUCS) in Tanzania. A random sample of 1004 non-pregnant women was selected from the DUCS population database and interviewed about dietary information using the FFQ. Women were aged 30.2 (±8.1) years; 27.8% were overweight and 22.6% were obese. All 1004 women in the study consumed starchy staple foods. Of all the women studied, 10.5%, 1.7% and 3.8% consumed vitamin A rich dark green vegetables, nuts and seeds, and beans and peas, respectively. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of Prime Dietary Quality Score (PDQS), those who were in the highest quintile were significantly less likely to be overweight or obese (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (APR) = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.89) (F for trend = 0.029). Dietary diversity score (DDS) was not significantly associated with overweight and obesity. Risk factors included the highest consumption of animal foods (APR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.51–3.51) and fast food (APR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.24–4.34). Consumption of legumes and whole grains was associated with lower risk (APR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.38–0.2). Dietary quality is an important predictor of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age. Nutrition interventions may be warranted to support women of reproductive age to enter pregnancy with healthier weight to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes and future risk of chronic diseases.

Evidence on double and triple burdens of malnutrition among adolescents is an essential key to informing policy design, implementation, and tracking progress of adolescent nutritional programs. Tanzania has a scarcity of studies on the double and triple burden of malnutrition among adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the co-occurrence of malnutrition (overweight, stunting, and anemia) among adolescents (10–19 y) in mainland Tanzania. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 44,120 primary school adolescents aged 10 to 19 y in mainland Tanzania. Anthropometric assessments (weight, height, and body mass index), dietary assessments, and hemoglobin levels were used to calculate the single, double, and triple burden of malnutrition. Data were analyzed using Stata software 15. The chi-square test was used to test the association between the nutrition condition and social demographic variables, physical activity, and dietary quality. Log-binomial models were used to determine factors associated with stunting, overweight, and anemia. Multivariable log-binomial models were used to control confounders. All analyses were 2-tailed, and the significance level was set at 5%. The prevalence of anemia was 34.1%, while stunting and overweight had a prevalence of 32% and 4.2%, respectively. Approximately 41.7%, 13.5%, and 0.3% had single, double, and triple burden malnutrition-related conditions, respectively. Females were found to have a higher risk of being overweight compared with males (relative risk [RR]: 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 1.45), while engaging in moderate to low levels of physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of being overweight. Additionally, residing in urban areas was linked to a decreased risk of stunting (RR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.80) and a 27% lower risk of anemia when compared with participants from rural areas. The findings from this study suggest that the complex nature of malnutrition among school adolescents warrants consideration when designing policies and interventions to reduce the burden of malnutrition.

Feeding practices during infancy have a significant impact on a child’s cognitive development and long-term health outcomes. Dietary diversity guidelines from the WHO and UNICEF recommend a diverse range of foods for children aged below 24 months for their optimal growth and development. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), little is known about the extent to which dietary diversity behaviour in children aged 6 to 24 months aligns with the recommendations and the factors associated with the differentials in dietary behaviour. This study aimed to fill this gap. This study employed an analytical cross-sectional approach, drawing on recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 31 SSA countries. The study included a weighted sample of 44,071 children aged between 6 and 24 months, and their respective mothers aged 15–49 years. The primary outcome was Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) categorised per WHO recommendation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of MDD with demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The pooled MDD intake among children aged 6–24 months in SSA was 11% ranging from as low as 1.3% in Burkina Faso to 32.9% in South Africa. Children of mothers aged 45–49 years had 52% significant higher likelihood of MDD compared to those aged 15–19 years (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI:1.03, 2.24). Higher maternal education levels also increased MDD odds in the children: 22% higher for mothers who had attained secondary education (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI:1.07, 1.39), and 36% higher for those with education beyond secondary level (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI:1.09, 1.71) compared to no education. Children of rich mothers had 44% higher odds of MDD than those with poor mothers (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI:1.27, 1.62). Increased antenatal visits, and urban residence also contributed to higher MDD odds. Based on the current global estimate of approximately 28% MDD rate, the reported 11% MDD intake among children in this study is relatively low. There is a positive association between MDD intake in children and several factors, including maternal education, antenatal visits, wealth index, and residency. These findings highlight the need for policymakers and other stakeholders to give urgent attention to empowering parents to ensure adequate nutrient intake among children for better child growth and development.

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have been linked with increased risk for maternal and offspring complications in high-income settings. However, in resource-limited settings, studies with robust measurement of HDP, including severity and timing, and perinatal outcomes are limited. Methods: We analysed data from two prospective cohorts of nulliparous women in India (n=10 570 pregnancies) and Tanzania (n=10 299 pregnancies) who were enrolled in calcium supplementation trials and had blood pressure and proteinuria assessments throughout pregnancy and at the time of labour and delivery. Generalised estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between HDP severity categories (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia without severe features and preeclampsia with severe features) and timing of HDP onset (early-onset <34 weeks vs late-onset ≥34 weeks gestation) with adverse perinatal outcomes. Results: The cumulative incidence of HDP was 3.7% and 4.5% in the India and Tanzania cohorts, respectively. All HDP severity categories were associated with a significantly higher risk for perinatal death in both cohorts (p values<0.05). Pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia with severe features had the largest magnitude of increased risk for perinatal death as compared with pregnancies without an HDP (India RR 8.60; 95% CI 5.90 to 12.53; Tanzania RR 4.05; 95% CI 2.91 to 5.66). In both cohorts, pre-eclampsia with and without severe features, but not gestational hypertension, was associated with increased risks for preterm birth and low birth weight. Pregnancies with early-onset HDP had a high absolute risk of perinatal death (India 25.6% and Tanzania 36.9%), and the risk was markedly increased as compared with late-onset HDP (India RR 4.79; 95% CI 2.68 to 8.54; Tanzania RR 5.79; 95% CI 3.56 to 9.41). Conclusion: HDP were differentially associated with risks for perinatal outcomes by severity and timing of onset. Interventions that prevent, reduce the severity or delay the onset of HDP may improve perinatal outcomes in resource-limited settings. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03350516

Background: Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment within 24 hours of fever onset is crucial for reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality in under five children. However, research on the prompt care-seeking behaviors and their determinants in this demographic is limited. This study examined the prevalence of prompt care-seeking behaviors among under five febrile children in Tanzania and the associated determinants. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS), including a nationally representative and weighted sample of 1,050 under-five children who experienced fever within two weeks prior to the survey. A weighted univariable and multivariable modified Poisson regression model with robust estimator was used to examine the association between prompt care seeking behaviors and explanatory variables, including child and caregivers’ factors. Results: The prevalence of prompt care seeking for febrile children was 43.2%. Caregivers of female children had 18% less prevalences of seeking prompt care (95% CI 0.68–0.98) compared to caregivers with their male children. Caregivers aged 25–34 and 35–49 years had 36% (95% CI 1.05–1.78) and 61% (95% CI 1.16–2.23) higher prevalences of seeking prompt care for their children respectively, compared to younger caregivers aged 15–24 years. Caregivers with at least primary education had 50% (95% CI 1.12–2.02) higher prevalences of seeking prompt care compared to those with no formal education. Additionally, an increase in one household member was associated with a 3% increase in the prevalence of seeking prompt malaria care (95% CI 1.01–1.05). Conclusion: In Tanzania, female children under five experience delays in care-seeking for malaria, whereas older and more educated caregivers are more likely to seek timely treatment for their children. To enhance health outcomes in this vulnerable group, targeted interventions should prioritize raising awareness among caregivers, particularly younger ones and prompting equitable care seeking to all children regardless of sex.