The association between immunization and nutritional status among preschool children in rural Tanzania

Abstract

A cross-sectional anthropometric survey was conducted among 1,706 preschool children living in 11 villages in Bagamoyo district, Eastern Tanzania in order to determine possible beneficial effects of immunization on nutritional status. While at the time of this survey all the children had been beneficiaries of an acute respiratory infections and malaria control programme for at least two years, one-half of were also recepients of an additional nutrition intervention package consisting of growth monitoring and promotion( GMP) and Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) for one year. The immunization status of 234 child deaths that had occurred in the villages over a preceding 3-year period was also elicited. The results indicate that weight-for-age and weight-for-height were positively, and significantly, correlated with immunization only among children aged above 2 years who were not only immunized, but who also had regular access to GMP/ORT. Height-for-age was not associated with immunization for the whole study sample. Immunization, however, was associated with decreased mortalIty irrespective of access to GMP/ORT. Discussion focuses on the probable synergism between immunization and the other interventions. Finally, recommendations are given on the need for a wider orientation of health interventions aimed at preschool children to include control measures against locally important non-immunizable infections.