The Impact Of Maternal Education, On Nutrition Status Of Under-Five In Kiteto District, Manyara Region

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in Kiteto district and the general objective was; to assess the impact of maternal education on nutrition status of under-five. Data were collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and interviews. A total of 222 respondents were involved in the study. The information obtained was then analysed using SPSS Version 21 and ENA for SMART Programme and interpreted by using the WHO Standards (2006). The converted nutritional data were transformed into Z-scores of the indices; height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age to identify associated factors of malnutrition. Findings from the study have revealed that, 42.7% of the respondents were aware of some factors which affected the nutrition status of the under-five while 57.3% decline, also children aged at (3-5yrs) were less likely to be underweight than those aged less than one year. On the other hand, findings also have revealed that, symptoms of stunting, underweight and wasting were more prevalent among children who are parents were peasant farmers and pastoralist. This is because farmers and pastoralist preferred to have a huge number of children in the households and early birth order, which led to a poor handling of the children as well were always characterized by migration from one place to another, to find green and pasture for their cattle (p < 0.005). From the findings of this study, it is concluded that, malnutrition is still an important problem among under five at Kiteto District. Therefore, special attention should be given on the intervention of malnutrition.