The Interplay of Household, Maternal, and Child Characteristics in Predicting Anaemia Among Children (6-59 months) in Tanzania: Insights from 2022 Demographic and Health survey

Background Anaemia is a major global public health issue, severely affecting children aged 6–59 months. Anaemia in children is associated with impaired physical and cognitive development. The burden of anemia is especially high in low- and middle-income countries such as Tanzania. Therefore, the study aimed to identify predictors of anemia among 6–59 months aged children in Tanzania. Methods Analytical cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey, a national survey conducted from February to July 2022. The survey employed a two-stage, stratified sampling design, with strata defined by geographic region and urban/rural areas. Primary sampling units were selected from census enumeration areas, followed by systematic household selection. A weighted binary logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of anemia, with results presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6–59 months in Tanzania was found to be 58.8% (95% CI: 56.7–60.9%). The study identified several factors significantly associated with childhood anemia. Children were more likely to be anemic if their mothers were also anemic (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.57–2.22), if they were younger particularly those aged 6–23 months (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 2.51–3.87) and 24–42 months (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.43–2.11), or if they had experienced recent episodes of diarrhea (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.19–2.27). In contrast, children were less likely to be anemic if their mothers had medical health insurance (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38–0.83), if they were exposed to mass media such as radio or television (AOR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70–0.99), or if their household owned mosquito bed nets (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62–0.95). Conclusion This study identifies several important determinants of anemia among Tanzanian children under five. The likelihood of anemia was notably higher among children whose mothers were anemic, those under the age of 42 months, particularly those between 6 and 23 months, and those who had recently suffered from diarrhea. In contrast, children whose mothers had health insurance, who lived in households with mosquito bed nets, or who were exposed to mass media were found to have a lower risk of developing anemia. These findings underscore the need for integrated, multisectoral interventions that not only address maternal health and nutrition but also expand access to health insurance, improve early childhood illness prevention, and enhance health education through mass media. Promoting appropriate feeding practices and ensuring household-level malaria prevention are also critical. A holistic approach targeting both medical and social determinants is essential to reduce the burden of anemia and improve child survival and development outcomes in Tanzania.