Compliance with the international code and national regulations of marketing of breast-milk substitutes and designated products in Tanzania
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Date
2010
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study to estimate prevalence of non-compliance with the WHO International Code and
Tanzania National Regulations (NRs) for Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and
Designated Products was conducted in seven selected health care facilities and 10 infant
food retail outlets in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro urban centres. A multi-site cross-
sectional questionnaire-based survey/interview was used. The study showed that both the
NRs and the Code were violated in all health care facilities and retail outlets. Majority of
health workers (87.8%) were not aware of the existence of the Code. Only 12.2% health
workers across surveyed districts were aware of the NRs. Across the districts the health
care service was the most common source (64%) of free or subsidized samples of Breast-
milk Substitutes (BMS) received by pregnant women and mothers, in contravention of
Article 7.4 of the Code. About three quarters (72.2%) of pregnant women and 61.1%
mothers had not been counselled about infant feeding. It was found that 35 BMS and
designated products violated one or more of the provisions of the Code and NRs. Over
half (57.1%) of the products that violated the Code recommended inappropriate ages of
introduction; 45.7% had no labelling information that the product should be used only on
advice of health worker; 54.3% had no warning against health hazards of inappropriate
use; 91.4% carried pictures, drawings, or text idealizing use of the product. The
Government has an obligation to ensure that legislation is accompanied by effective
awareness-raising, training, information, implementation and monitoring systems to guide
practices of health professionals. Control of infant foods trade in the East African
Community and Southern Africa Development Community needs to be harmonized and
coordinated to enhance effective implementation of the Code and the NRs and subsequent
improvement in infant and young child feeding practices in East Africa and Tanzania.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Breastfeeding, Human Milk, Early infant foods