Assessment of complementary foods and child feeding practices in Dodoma Region, Tanzania

Journal of Continuing Education and Extension, 2014; 5(1):529-544

A study was carried out in Dodoma region, Tanzania to assess complementary foods and child feeding practices. Three hundred and twenty mothers with children aged between 6 to 24 months were selected randomly in four districts (Bahl, Chamwino, Dodoma Municipality and Kondoa) and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using the descriptive statistics. Results show that maize, sorghum and linger millet were commonly used cereals JOr child Pods In Dodoma region. All respondents introduced complementary food's using available cereals before their children attained the age of six months. The average age when children were introduced to complementary foods was between 3.2 and 4.7 months; being lowest in Dodoma Municipality and highest in Kondoa. Utilization and preference of cereals used in complementary foods varied among districts. Utilization of sorghum porridge hi respondents ranged from 23.8% in Chaniwino to 27.8% in Dodoma Municipality. Maize porridge ranged from 24.7% in Chamwino, to 31.3% in Kondoa. Finger millet was the most highly used cereal in Kondoa at (61.2%). Grounchnits, common legumes in Dodoma, were used in complementary fouls at different rates varying from 20.5% in Chal1710110 to 32.4% in Kondoa. Respondents who Jeed children three meals per day ranged from 23.9% in Chainwino, to 26.4 % in Dodonia Municipality. These results show that most respondents did not adhere to the recommended practices of exclusive breast jeeding for six months. There is a need 1hcrelbrc' to sensitize Wainen and the community at large on the importance of recommended practices for breast feeding and promote appropriate complementary Pods and feeding practices in order to avoid likely health complication among