Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Potential in Combating VAD Among Under Five Children in Mbeya, Tanzania: Community’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among children under five years of age remains a significant public health concern in Tanzania. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), rich in provitamin A, offer a sustainable dietary solution to address this challenge. This study aimed to assess the community’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding OFSP in Mbeya Municipality—an area identified with notable cases of VAD despite the availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 90 caregivers from three wards and 15 healthcare workers from the corresponding health facilities. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative insights. Results revealed that although general awareness of OFSP was relatively high across the municipality (80% and above), specific knowledge about its vitamin A content and associated health benefits was considerably low, averaging only 8.9%. Positive attitudes toward OFSP were also limited, particularly in Iyunga Ward (56.7%). Only 14.4% of caregivers reported regularly feeding OFSP to their children. Among healthcare workers, moderate levels of knowledge (53.3%), attitude (86.7%), and practice (73.3%) were observed in promoting the consumption of OFSP, despite the presence of OFSP programs at the health centers. This may be attributed to insufficient training materials, limited professional capacity, and minimal policy support to reinforce positive attitudes and practices. These findings highlight the importance of reinforcing and motivating nutrition education for both caregivers and healthcare workers. Strengthening such initiatives is vital for improving child nutrition, which continues to demand considerable attention. The study concludes that enhancing knowledge to close the gap between awareness and practice, promoting positive attitudes, and building workforce capacity at the ward level are essential strategies for increasing OFSP utilization and reducing the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency.