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Mothers as Nutritional Gatekeepers: A Focus on Under-Five Children

Jeremie Minani1*, Seif S. Khalfan1,2, Intisar H. Bakar1,3, Khadija K. Said1

Malnutrition is a significant public health issue in developing countries, including Tanzania, and accounts for up to 50% of under-five mortality. This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted from June 2020 to September 2022, employed a quantitative approach to assess mothers' knowledge of balanced diets for children under five. We collected from 113 mothers attending Sebleni Reproductive Child Health (RCH) in the urban district of Unguja Zanzibar. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on mothers' social demographics and dietary knowledge. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with a minimum adequate diet while adjusting for confounders. The study revealed that a majority of mothers possessed a low level of knowledge regarding balanced diets, with only 12 (10.6%) having a higher level of knowledge. Notably, 45 (39.8%) mothers exhibited moderate knowledge. Factors such as maternal age (26-30 years) and education level were associated with lower knowledge levels. Maternal education emerged as a crucial determinant, with uneducated mothers having an odds ratio (OR) of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.2-2.4, p=0.001) for low knowledge. These findings underscore the pivotal role of maternal education in shaping mothers' knowledge about essential diets for their children. Public policies and interventions should prioritize improving access, quality, and equity in education. Bridging the digital divide is essential to ensure that uneducated mothers can access online resources. Quality education, focusing on providing relevant information and fostering critical thinking skills, is paramount in addressing this issue.