This research article was published by BMC Nutrition, 2021
Background: Tanzania is one of the Sub-Saharan African country with nearly 12 out of 60 million people being
adolescent. The prevalence of child marriage is higher with one out of every three girls being married before
reaching their 18th birthday, 5 % being married by the age of 15, and 31% by the age of 18 years. Literature shows
early pregnancy is associated with Low Birth Weight (LBW) and stunting among children under 5 years. This paper
explores variation and factors associated with low birth weight and stunting among children born by adolescent
and non-adolescent mothers.
Methods: Data from 13,266 women with children under 5 years collected as part of the 2015/2016 TDHS was re analyzed using STATA version 14 software while accounting for survey design. A total of 6385 women (of which
7.2% were adolescent) and 8852 women (of which 6.7% were adolescent) were involved in the analysis of child
birth weight and stunting respectively. Descriptive statistics stratified by maternal age was conducted with LBW and
stunting as outcome variables followed by logistic regressions models controlling for confounding variables.
Results: The proportion of obese or overweight adolescent and non-adolescent mothers was 11.8 and 36.5%
respectively. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance, areas of residence and social economic status were very similar in
the two maternal age groups. Non- adolescent mothers had reduced odds of giving birth to LBW babies compared
to adolescent mothers (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22–0.50). Maternal undernutrition (AOR = 2.29;
95% CI: 1.43–3.67), being divorced, separated or widowed (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.24–2.50) and having at least four
ANC visits (AOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49–0.83) were significantly associated with reduced odds of having a LBW. Child
stunting was not associated with maternal age. Maternal high socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57–0.84)
and maternal obesity or overweight (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64–0.92) were negatively associated with stunting. Child
birth weight, sex, and age were significantly associated with stunting.