Malnutrition in Tanzania- an Overview

Lack of nutrition security is reflected in malnutrition affecting many Tanzanians in different
forms. Child malnutrition is indicated through the use of three anthropometric indices of
nutritional status – height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height Micronutrient
deficiencies are also common, notably anemia, and vitamin A and iodine deficiencies.
Under nutrition among Tanzanians is manifested at an early age, therefore, great emphasis is
placed on monitoring child nutrition to avoid or minimize the adverse consequences of
malnutrition. Data from the three demographic and health surveys conducted in Tanzania in the 1990s show a consistent pattern in nutritional status among children: growth falters at a very early age, and then stabilizes when children are 18-24 months of age

Not only is there early onset of malnutrition in Tanzania but the rates of child malnutrition are
high. According to data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) 2004/05,
about 40% of children under five years of age are stunted, i.e., they are short for their age,
which is an indicator of chronic undernutrition, and about 3% are wasted, i.e., low weight for
height, which is an indicator of acute undernutrition (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
[Tanzania] & ORC Macro, 2005). Approximately 22% of children are underweight (low weight
for age), which is a composite measure of long- and short-term undernutrition
This last indicator is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) indicators.
Overall, urban children are more likely to enjoy better nutrition than rural children; according to the TDHS 2004/05, 26% of urban children under five years of age were stunted, comparedwith 41% of rural children.
Data from the TDHS indicate some improvements in nutrition. The prevalence of stunting fell
in the 2004/05 survey after a period in the 1990s when there was no change. The
percentage of children underweight for age and the percentage wasted has also declined
since 1996. The declining rate of stunting among rural children accounts for the recent
improvements observed at national level. Between 1999 and 2004, the prevalence of
stunting in urban areas increased slightly to 26%. Rural rates, on the other hand, declined
from 48% to 41% over the same period. Nonetheless, given the high rates of
malnutrition which are prevalent among rural children, it is unlikely that Tanzania will reduce
stunting among children under five years to 20% by 2010, which is the target set by the government under MKUKUT program.
Nutrition rates are worst amongst the poor. According to the 1999 Tanzania Reproductive and
Child Health Survey (TRCHS), 50% of children in the poorest 40% of households were stunted,
compared with 23% of children from the least poor 20% of households (NBS & Macro
International, 1999)

Micronutrient disorders are also prevalent in Tanzania, particularly iron deficiency
(anaemia), and vitamin A and iodine deficiencies. According to the TDHS 2004/05,
approximately two-thirds of children and 43% of women are anaemic. The same survey
reported that 73% of households were consuming iodated salt, and that the adequacy of the
iodation varied considerably, with higher levels reported among urban households than
among rural households. There has been a substantial increase in the availability of vitamin
A supplementation. An assessment by Helen Keller International and TFNC in July 2004,
shortly after the Vitamin A Supplementation Campaign, indicated that 85% of children aged
6-59 months received vitamin A supplements.

Low birth weight (below 2.5 kg) has changed little in the past few years. The TRCHS 1999
recorded that 9% of babies who had been weighed at birth had weights under 2.5 kg. In the
TDHS 2004/05, the corresponding figure was 7%. Of note, about half of all births take place
at home, hence, birth weights are recorded for only about half of all births. Low birth weight
is a reflection of poor maternal health and nutritional status. There is evidence from a survey
of low birth weight that adolescent mothers are more likely to be anaemic and
undernourished than their older peers (TFNC, UNICEF (Tanzania) and Centre for
International Child Health, 2002). Anaemia is associated with the high prevalence of malaria
and parasitic infestations.

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