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

November 17, 2020 updated by: Lorraine Cordeiro, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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 Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

1125

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Amherst, Massachusetts, United States, 01003-9282
        • University of Massachusetts Amherst

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

10 years to 14 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

This cross-sectional study merged and analyzed two independent samples of adolescents living in Tanzania. One study was conducted in Tanzania by Cordeiro et al. (2012) and the other was conducted in an urban setting by Carlson, Brennan, and Earls (2012); both conducted in 2004. The Kilosa/rural dataset was derived from a two-stage sampling plan for selection of villages and adolescents. The Moshi/urban dataset was derived from a two-stage sampling plan for a cluster randomized control trial (CRCT). From a total combined sample of 1476 adolescents aged 10-19 years across both datasets, 1237 met the age criterion for younger adolescents (10-14 years). The analytical sample for this study was 1125.

Description

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 Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Body Mass Index for age and gender z-scores
Time Frame: 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
Two measures collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.
Height for age and gender z-scores
Time Frame: 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
Two measures collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.
Undernutrition
Time Frame: 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 and weight measures collected twice consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.
Stunting
Time Frame: 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
Two measures of height in meters collected consequentially during a 30 minute time frame on the date of survey administration.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Collaborators

Tufts University
Harvard University
UNICEF

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lorraine Cordeiro, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 11, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 17, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

November 23, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 23, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 17, 2020

Last Verified

November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 15-008

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Tanzania

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
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