Abstract:
Dietary intake measures are useful for assessing nutritional status of an individual.
Dietary intake depends on the availability of healthy foods, as well as on resources
available to an individual, allowing them to purchase or access foods. This study was
carried out in 20 villages in Iringa Rural District, between July and September 2013 to
assess effects of food insecurity among pastoralist women and their infants. Interviews
were used to gather information on food insecurity and food frequency in pastoralist
households. Anthropometric measurements and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of the
participants were also collected. A total of 200 women and 30 infants were included in
the study. The results indicated that majority (75.8%) of women's diet was of plant origin.
Approximately 75% of women had food shortages, defined as having at least one meal
per day composed of limited food groups and quantities. All children were given meals
mainly composed of carbohydrates (40%) once a day with no consistent pattern of types
of foods or feeding times. Data on the nutritional status of children indicated that 6.6% of
the Barbaig children experienced wasting while 10% of the Sukuma children were
stunted. For women, 28% were underweight, while 7% were obese. Haemoglobin data
indicate that 87.5% of children were anaemic while 42% of women were anaemic. It is
concluded that most women and children had food insecurity and poor nutritional status
which partly would be caused by climate change. It is recommended that nutritional
education programs should be introduced in health facilities and in schools so as to
improve the knowledge on nutrition. Also education should be given to the heads of
households on how to utilize livestock in improving their livelihood/income and strategies
to climate change adaptations.
