Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41927295›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Household dynamics of maternal caregiving and agricultural labour in complementary feeding practices in rural farming communities in Geita Region, Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Michael Salamba Mashala, Gladys Reuben Mahiti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Michael Salamba MashalaSchool of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania michaelsalamba.ms@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8264-4602
Gladys Reuben MahitiSchool of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveInappropriate complementary feeding contributes to child undernutrition, even in food-secure areas. This paradox highlights the need to look beyond food availability and examine the household-level mechanisms that shape everyday feeding decisions in the farming and food-secure settings. The objective of this study was to explore the household dynamics of maternal caregiving and agricultural labour in complementary feeding practices in rural farming communities in Geita.

designPhenomenology study design was employed to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of mothers regarding complementary feeding practices.

settingRural farming communities in Geita Region, Tanzania.

participantsMothers of children aged 6-23 months were purposively selected to participate in seven in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions.

resultsIn these farming communities, four household-level factors were found to influence complementary feeding practices: maternal responsibility and farming obligations, carrying children and porridge to the farms, limited paternal involvement, fatigue due to prolonged farm work, reliance on elder siblings for childcare and fear of judgement or sanctions for late arrival at the farm. Farming emerged as a cross-cutting theme that intersected all these sub-themes.

conclusionMothers described complementary feeding practices as closely linked to household division of labour, caregiving arrangements and the demands of farming activities that shaped daily routines. These findings suggest the need for context-sensitive strategies that consider intra-household roles and the time constraints associated with subsistence farming.

Indexed as

AgricultureCaregiversFamily CharacteristicsInfant Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaMothersAdultFeeding BehaviorFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInfantMaleQualitative ResearchRural PopulationTanzaniaYoung AdultHealthNutritional supportNUTRITION & DIETETICS

Identifiers

PMID41927295
PMCPMC13052812

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