Assessing Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Protein–Energy Malnutrition Among Children Under Five Years of Age Attending Kigoma District Hospital, Tanzania

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a form of malnutrition that is common in children under 5 years of age in the developing countries and even the developed countries. Young children are the most vulnerable to the vicious cycles of malnutrition, infection and disability, all of which influence the present condition of a child and the future human resource development of the nation as a whole. The prevalence of PEM in the children under five years of age has been shown not to witness a great improvement in Tanzania. It even increased in some districts including Kigoma District. Thus, this research was designed to assess the factors contributing to the high prevalence of PEM in children under 5 years of age in Kigoma District Hospital of Tanzania. This study was a cross-sectional study that involved randomly selected 100 women, who had children under 5 years of age. The women and their children were assessed for their nutritional status and the factors that affect the nutritional status. The results showed a high prevalence of PEM in the children under 5 years of age as shown by the clinical symptoms such as poor weight gain, slowed linear growth, behavioral changes, anemia, muscle wasting, peripheral edema, glossitis, cheilosis, sparse hair and nail spooning. The poor socioeconomic status that might have resulted from poverty was also indicated. The high prevalence of PEM in Kigoma District could be due to infections and low educational status of the mother resulting in poor nutritional status of their children.