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Table 1 Population characteristics in Rufiji, Ulanga and Kilombero districts of Tanzania, 2011 (children, n = 2,077; caregivers, n = 1,643)

From: Childhood Illness Prevalence and Health Seeking Behavior Patterns in Rural Tanzania

Characteristic

n (% or SD)

Child characteristics

Gender

Male

1084 (52.19)

Female

993 (47.81)

Mean age (years)

2.09 (1.32)

0 - 1 year

876 (42.18)

1 - 2 years

382 (18.39)

2 - 5 years

819 (39.43)

Foster status

Not foster child

1973 (94.99)

Foster child

104 (5.01)

Caregiver characteristics

Mean age (years)

29.97 (8.39)

15 - 24 years

516 (31.41)

25 - 34 years

622 (37.86)

≥35 years

505 (30.74)

Educational achievement

None

399 (24.28)

Primary

1167 (71.03)

Secondary and plus(a)

77 (4.69)

Marital status

Married(b)

1338 (81.44)

Unmarried

305 (18.56)

Religion

Muslim

858 (52.22)

Christian

706 (42.97)

Traditional

79 (4.81)

Ethnic Group

Ndengereko

272 (16.56)

Pogoro

237 (14.42)

Sukuma

150 (9.13)

Ngindo

233 (14.18)

Other

751 (45.71)

Relationship to head of household

 

Wife

948 (57.70)

Head of household

77 (4.6)

Daughter

299 (18.20)

Daughter-in-law

123 (7.49)

Other

196 (11.93)

Number of children under age 5 in household

One child under 5

1248 (76.56)

Two children under 5

357 (21.73)

Three children under 5

38 (2.31)

Wealth quintiles

First Quintile (Poorest)

355 (21.61)

Second Quintiles

422 (25.68)

Third Quintiles (Middle)

287 (17.47)

Fourth Quintiles

237 (14.42)

Fifth Quintiles (Wealthiest)

222 (13.51)

NR

120 (7.30)

District

Rufiji

403 (24.53)

Kilombero

973 (59.22)

Ulanga

267 (16.25)

Residence

Rural

1340 (81.56)

Urban/semi-urban

303 (18.44)

Nearest health facility characteristics

Ownership

Government

767 (46.68)

Private

876 (53.32)

Type

Dispensary

1222 (74.38)

Health center

203 (12.36)

Hospital

218 (13.27)

Distance to village

Mean (SD) = 3.001 (3.328)

<1 km

479 (29.15)

1-2.99 km

613 (37.31)

> = 3 km

551 (33.54)

  1. ARI = Acute respiratory infection (cough accompanied with difficulty of breathing
  2. NR = Non-response
  3. (a) Defined as ordinary or advanced secondary school
  4. (b) Defined as married or living with a partner as if married