CHILD NUTRITION, FEEDING PRACTICES, AND UNDER-FIVE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN MAKETE DISTRICT, TANZANIA

Abstract

Tanzania aligns with the global efforts to reduce malnutrition related disorder that contribute high mortality rate to children under five years. These efforts include establishment National Multi-sectorial Nutrition Action Plan (NMNAPI and II). However, despite these commendable effort’s malnutrition disorders decline with a notably discrepancies across the regions. This study examined feeding habits and practices to children under five years in Bulongwa ward at Makete District, Njombe Region. The study adopted qualitative cross-sectional design. A total of 20 adult female caretakers of children under five years were purposively and snowball recruited from their household. The study revealed that caretaker’s meanings and interpretation on malnutrition disorder, caretakers’ altitude and practices on child feeding and meanings and interpretation of a balanced diet and caretakers’ meanings and interpretation of a balanced diet shapes caretakers decision and choices with regard to food for children under five years. Up on these findings this study concludes that there is a need to direct an exemplary of the cases that consume a proper balanced diet   so as to be an example to others who could see that malnutrition disorder is not shaped by cultural taboos and moral world but are shaped by the feeding habits of their children.