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A study was carried out in Dodoma region, Tanzania to assess
complementary foods and child feeding practices. Three hundred and
twenty mothers with children aged between 6 to 24 months were selected
randomly in four districts (Bahl, Chamwino, Dodoma Municipality and
Kondoa) and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data were
analysed using the descriptive statistics. Results show that maize, sorghum
and linger millet were commonly used cereals JOr child Pods In Dodoma
region. All respondents introduced complementary food's using available
cereals before their children attained the age of six months. The average
age when children were introduced to complementary foods was between
3.2 and 4.7 months; being lowest in Dodoma Municipality and highest in
Kondoa. Utilization and preference of cereals used in complementary foods
varied among districts. Utilization of sorghum porridge hi respondents
ranged from 23.8% in Chaniwino to 27.8% in Dodoma Municipality. Maize
porridge ranged from 24.7% in Chamwino, to 31.3% in Kondoa. Finger
millet was the most highly used cereal in Kondoa at (61.2%). Grounchnits,
common legumes in Dodoma, were used in complementary fouls at
different rates varying from 20.5% in Chal1710110 to 32.4% in Kondoa.
Respondents who Jeed children three meals per day ranged from 23.9% in
Chainwino, to 26.4 % in Dodonia Municipality. These results show that
most respondents did not adhere to the recommended practices of exclusive
breast jeeding for six months. There is a need 1hcrelbrc' to sensitize Wainen
and the community at large on the importance of recommended
practices for breast feeding and promote appropriate complementary Pods
and feeding practices in order to avoid likely health complication among |
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