How does feeding habit affect infants’ nutrition? Evidence from Tanzania

The main objective of the study was to investigate the contribution of feeding habits to nutrition status of children under the age of five in Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed to analyze the contribution of demographic factors of caregivers/parents and to examine the influence of breastfeeding counseling on nutrition indicators of children under the age of five. The study employed a health belief model theory and social cognitive theory to gain insight on the relationship between feeding habits of caregivers/ parents and the nutrition status of children. This research used causal inference design with a view of determining causal relationship between the variables under study. Sample population includes under five year’s children, from households living across all over Tanzania. From the Tanzanian Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) edition of 2022 that covered 40,394 households, we utilized the data for household with at least one child below the age of five. This data, TDHS 2022, was collected by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The relationship between feeding habits and nutritional status of children under five years were examined using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique. In addition, the study integrated quantile regression for robustness check of the results estimated with OLS. The study found a statistically significant relationship between wealth status, gender of the infants and malnutrition, where male children are affected slightly differently with nutrition issues. The study also found that breastfeeding counseling has a positive influence on minimizing stunting and underweight in early age children. Furthermore, Vitamin A supplementation increases the nutritional value connected to improved child health, a promising factor alongside breastfeeding counsel to boost nutrition. The study recommends enhanced supportive network, this involves policymakers to create intervention such as income generating activities and nutritional supplements targeting low-income households. In addition, the study recommends strengthening breastfeeding and nutritional counseling programs that include education activities with comprehensive counseling for breastfeeding and Vitamin A supplementation in health programs.