The Effects of Household Shocks on Child Nutrition Status in Tanzania

The main objective of this paper is to examine the effects of household shocks on thenutrition status of children between 0–59 months in Tanzania. The study employed the national panel survey data of Tanzania collected in three waves: 2008/09, 2010/11, and 2012/13. The study used the panel random-effects probit model to estimate the effects of household shocks on child nutrition status, measured by binary variables: stunting, wasting, and underweight. Findings indicated that weather shocks increase the probability of a child being stunted and underweight. Moreover, the results revealed that food price rise shocks and the death of a family member increase the probability of child-stunting. In addition, the findings indicated that food assistance reduces the probability of a child being stunted and underweight. These findings suggest the need for the government to improve food assistance programs to reach many people, especially the poor and marginalized households in a period of shocks. In addition, agricultural policies that aim at increasing productivity, such as irrigation schemes, should also be enhanced to enable food availability in the country; and protect children from malnutrition even after the occurrence of shocks