Rural-urban Disparities in the Nutritional Status of Younger Adolescents in Tanzania.

Completed

• Conditions: Stunting; Undernutrition; Adolescent Development
• Interventions: Other: Cross-sectional study/no intervention

• Registration Number: NCT04640389
• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Brief Summary

Africa faces rapid urbanization, has the second highest population growth rate, makes up one-fifth of the world's youth population, and experiences stagnant rates of undernutrition. These challenges point to the need for country-specific data on rural-urban health disparities to inform development policies. This cross-sectional study examined disparities in body mass index-for-age-and-sex (BAZ) and height-for-age-and-sex z-scores (HAZ) among 1125 adolescents in Tanzania. Rural-urban disparities in nutritional status were significant and gendered. Findings confirm place of residence as a key determinant of BAZ, HAZ, and stunting among adolescents in Tanzania. Targeted gender-sensitive interventions among adolescents, particularly in rural areas, are needed to limit growth faltering and improve health outcomes.

Detailed Description

Africa faces rapid urbanization, has the second highest population growth rate, makes up one-fifth of the world's youth population, and experiences stagnant rates of undernutrition. These challenges point to the need for country-specific data on rural-urban health disparities to inform development policies. This cross-sectional study examined disparities in body mass index-for-age-and-sex (BAZ) and height-for-age-and-sex z-scores (HAZ) among 1125 adolescents in Tanzania. Pearson's chi-square tested associations between rural/urban residence and undernutrition (BAZ \<-2SD), stunting (HAZ \<-2SD), anthropometric, socioeconomic, and health indicators. Multivariate linear regression identified predictors of BAZ and HAZ.

Funding: UNICEF/ Tanzania; United States National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH66801).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-11
• Primary Completion: 2018-09
• Status Verified: 2020-11
• Study Completion: 2020-11
• Study First Submitted: 2020-11-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-11-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-11-17
• Study First Posted: 2020-11-23
• Last Update Posted: 2020-11-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1125

Inclusion Criteria

• Adolescents between 10 and 14 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

• Adolescents living away from the districts and not physically present at the time of the study

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Rural	Cross-sectional study/no intervention	Rural adolescents living in Kilosa District, Tanzania, who are between 10-14 years of age.
Urban	Cross-sectional study/no intervention	Urban adolescents living in Moshi District, Tanzania, who are between 10-14 years of age.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Body Mass Index for age and gender z-scores	Two measures collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.	Weight (Kg)/Height (M) squared compared to the WHO growth reference standard
Undernutrition	Height and weight measures collected twice consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.	Body Mass Index for age and gender z-scores \< -2SD of the WHO growth reference standard
Height for age and gender z-scores	Two measures collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.	Height in meters for age and gender compared to the WHO growth reference standard
Stunting	Two measures of height in meters collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.	Height (M) for age and gender z-scores \< -2SD of the WHO growth reference

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Massachusetts Amherst; 🇺🇸 Amherst, Massachusetts, United States