Association of Nutritional Status With Food Group Consumption and Complementary Feeding Practices in 6 to 23 Month Old Children: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association of nutritional status with food group consumption and complementary feeding practices in 6 to 23 month old children. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was done among 279 mother-child pairs in Arusha, Tanzania. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the association. Results: The overall proportion of anemia, wasting, stunting, and underweight was 85.66, 15.41, 46.27, and 24.37 respectively. Children who consumed flesh foods had lower odds of having underweight and anemia compared to their counterparts (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04-0.73, P < .05 and AOR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.07-0.41, P < .01 respectively). The odds of being anemic were higher for children who consumed dairy products (AOR = 10.24, 95% CI = 2.79-37.57, P < .01). Conclusion: Prioritizing animal-source foods is essential in low-income areas like Arusha, Tanzania, as it plays a crucial role in improving the nutritional status and overall health of the children.