| dc.description.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. | en |
