Delivering sleep: Bed kit distributions to children living in poverty in Tanzania

Abstract

Background

Overcrowded housing, insufficient beds, and poor mosquito protection are major barriers to healthy sleep for children living in poverty in developing countries. This study aimed to address these barriers by providing children living in poverty in Tanzania with climate-appropriate items essential for creating a safe and comfortable micro-sleep environment.

Methods

From 2000 to 2024, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) delivered 135,500 bed kits to children aged 7–11 years living in poverty in Tanzania. Since 2019, culturally adapted sleep education information was delivered orally to parents of bed kit recipients.

Results

Twenty-four distributions reached an average of 5646 children per cohort years. Mattresses and mosquito nets were consistently included; other items varied.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a community-driven approach to improving the sleep environments of children living in poverty in a developing country, offering a scalable model for promoting sleep health in low-resource settings.