Adequacy of macro and micronutrients in infants and young children's diets in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Background

A study was conducted in Zanzibar using ProPAN software to assess nutrient adequacy of foods given to infants and children aged 6–23 months old in Zanzibar.

Methodology

The 24-hr dietary recall method embedded in ProPAN software was used to determine the adequacy of energy, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin A in foods consumed by children. Sample of 200 mothers/caretakers with children aged 6–23 months were interviewed.

Results

Most frequent foods given to infants and children were tea, bread, white rice and fish. Key nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin A were below the recommended levels except for vitamin C from the diets consumed by children aged 11–23 months. Energy and protein were considered to be adequate as more than 90% of the children received enough of these nutrients. Mean age of introduction of complementary foods was four months.

Conclusion

Children diets were limited in fruits and vegetables that caused micronutrients of nutritional importance such as iron, zinc and vitamin A to be supplied below recommended level. Equally, fat intake was below recommended level. Nutrition education on appropriate complementary foods should be given to caregivers. Promotion of consumption of diversified diets and locally available nutrient dense foods should be emphasized so as to achieve adequate intake of nutrients to infants and young children.