be developed during childhood. Malnutrition is a health problem that occurs when the body receives

insufficient food nutrients. Childhood malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Tanzania.

and prevention is critical for early detection and prevention.

Sinza antenatal clinic and to examine associations between knowledge level and socio-demographic factors.

consent was obtained from all participants.

knowledge category, 11.7% in the average category, and 23.3% in the low category. Domain-specific findings

included: definition and signs correctly identified by 70.9% of mothers; causes by 68.9%; prevention and

feeding practices by 73.6% for exclusive breastfeeding and 84.5% for appropriate complementary feeding

malnutrition, but gaps remain in recognition of signs and optimal complementary feeding timing. Antenatal

clinics represent an effective platform for targeted nutrition education, especially for first-time mothers and

nutrition knowledge. Malnutrition could be a condition that develops when the body does not get the require

food nutrients in their right proportions (1). Such food nutrients include minerals, vitamins, carbohydrate,

proteins and fat and lipids it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ functions. Malnutrition can even

maintenance and growth or they cannot fully utilize the food they eat because of illness (under nutrition), while

those that suffer from over nutrition consumes an excessive number of calories (1,2).

Malnutrition has adverse effects on child growth and development. Some adverse consequences of malnutrition

include low school performance, increased child morbidity and mortality rate and propagation of poverty at

family and national level because most of the adults who are malnourished during childhood are incapable of

thinking well or creating new innovations which can boost their economic status (3,4,5).

instance, the study done in Kenya shows that 48% of children under-five years of age were stunted, in Uganda

national range is from 48% to 50% (8,9,10). Similarly, in Tanzania studies show that the prevalence range

between 38%-42% (11,12).

Mothers and care givers of under-five children need to have knowledge on malnutrition in order to prevent

under five from malnutrition (13,14). Studies done to assess the knowledge of mother on under-five

malnutrition reported that awareness of mothers regarding nutrition of their children exists but it can be further

improved with basic health education, awareness and proper counselling by the health workers (15-18).

Although national and local programs promote breastfeeding, complementary feeding and micronutrient

interventions, persistent gaps in caregiver knowledge limit impact. This study addresses a gap in the literature

by assessing domain-specific knowledge (definition and signs, causes, prevention and feeding practices, and

pregnant women.

The study population comprised mothers with at least one child under five years who attended the antenatal

clinic between March 8, 2021 and April 8, 2022. A consecutive convenient sampling approach was used to

recruit participants who met inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent. The final sample

The minimum sample size was calculated using the standard formula for cross-sectional studies with a 95%

confidence level and a margin of error of 5%, using an expected knowledge prevalence (p) of 93% from prior

Tanzanian data. A 10% allowance for non-response was added, yielding a target sample of 103 participants.

socio-demographic data: age, marital status, education level, employment status and number of children.

Trained research assistants administered the questionnaire in a private area of the clinic and recorded responses

directly to minimize missing data. Completed questionnaires were reviewed daily for completeness.

Data were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages,

means, standard deviations) summarized participant characteristics and knowledge scores. Associations

between categorical variables and knowledge categories were tested using chi-square tests. A p-value < 0.05

was considered statistically significant.

Ethical approval was obtained from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences Institutional

years (39.8%). Most participants were married (68.0%), had primary or secondary education (76.7%

combined), and were self-employed (55.3%). More than half (55.3%) had one child.

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of participants (N = 103)

The mean total knowledge score was 6.2 (SD = 0.9). Overall knowledge categories were: high 65.0% (n = 67),

average 11.7% (n = 12), and low 23.3% (n = 24).

Definition and signs: 70.9% correctly identified common signs such as weight loss and thin, inelastic skin.

Causes: 68.9% identified causes including poor hygiene, poverty, unsafe water, inadequate diet and infections.

Prevention and feeding practices: 95.1% recognized early initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth;

73.6% identified exclusive breastfeeding for six months as preventive; 84.5% indicated appropriate initiation of

complementary feeding after six months; 85.4% cited adequate breastfeeding and nutritious food; 62.1%

recognized hospitalization for severe malnutrition. Complications: 83.5% identified reduced immunity,

anaemia and risk of death as complications.

revealed strengths in awareness of prevention strategies such as early breastfeeding initiation and

complementary feeding timing, and in recognizing complications such as reduced immunity and anaemia.

However, nearly one-quarter of mothers had low overall knowledge, and gaps persisted in recognition of some

signs and in detailed feeding practices.

with lower education levels are therefore priority groups for targeted counselling. Antenatal clinics provide

repeated contact opportunities and are well positioned to deliver structured nutrition education that includes

practical demonstrations on complementary feeding, hygiene in food preparation and recognition of early signs

of malnutrition.

The author thanks the staff of Sinza antenatal clinic and all participating mothers for their cooperation.

3. Henrietta CN. Determinants of Acute Malnutrition in children under five years in Harare City

Zimbabwe. 2011;(August).

4. Bundara N, Mwanri L, Masika J. Addressing childhood under nutrition in Tanzania: Challenges and

opportunities. 2013;13(1):7288–306.

5. Shikur B, Deressa W, Lindtjørn B. Association between malaria and malnutrition among children aged

under-five years in Adami Tulu District, south-central Ethiopia:2016;16(1):174.

Five Years Age Children at Machakel Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia: 2014;4(1):1–7.

23. Emmanuel A, Juliet NO, Adetunji OE, Hosea GK, Partience KR. Malnutrition and associated factors