Traditionally fermented milks are widely consumed in various countries of sub-Saharan Africa and a number of health benefits to human beings are attributed to them. However, available studies show that children less than 5 years old consume milk mainly as fresh milk or when added to tea or porridge. Therefore, information on consumption of traditionally fermented milk by children is scanty, yet factors hindering its consumption have rarely been studied. The objective of this study was, therefore, to establish factors, which negatively influence consumption of Mursik, a traditionally fermented milk product from the Kenyan Rift Valley, Uasin Gishu County. This will have a positive impact on its consumption and hence increased nutritional status and health among children. The study sought to determine average weekly household mursik production, quantity and the extent of consumption by children less than five years and their association with sociodemographic and economic characteristics of households. A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 383 Kalenjin households was conducted within Kapseret location in August 2013. Structured questionnaires and a focused group discussion (FGD) question guide were the main instruments of data collection. The baseline survey showed that only 32% of households fed their children mursik and they fed a mean quantity of 250 ml per week or 12 kg annually. Education level of respondents (χ 2 = 0.116, P= 0.025), household mursik production levels (χ 2 = 0.1311, P=0.001) and respondents' nutrition knowledge of mursik (χ 2 =0.154, P=0.005) negatively influenced mursik consumption among pre-school children. Results further indicated that although a majority (86.4%) of respondents had average nutrition knowledge of mursik, the application of these nutrition concepts was lacking. This might be due to socio-economic factors, cultural beliefs, attitudes and/or negative perceptions among respondents of mursik consumption by young children. There seems to be urgent need for a well-designed nutrition intervention program, sensitizing mothers and the population in general on the importance of traditionally fermented milk (mursik) for children and as a transition food that is locally available, affordable and culturally acceptable.
This study examined the impact of fish farming on household food security and livelihoods of fish farming and non-fish farming households in Siaya County. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. Currently fish farming remains under developed in Western Kenya where pond productivity is low and not rising, despite the efforts of several players including the national government of Kenya. Further, capture fishing in Lake Victoria and rivers has been declining. These scenarios called for the need to examine the production systems and their current performances. The objective of the study was to examine effect of fish farming on household food security and livelihoods. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. Stratified random sampling was used to select fish farming and non-fish farming households. For nutritional assessment, lactating mothers and preschool children were selected through stratified and systematic random sampling. ChiSquare revealed slight association between nutritional status and fish farming ( 4,0.01 2 = 0.448; p > 0.05) though not significant. Analysis of variance found a higher dietary diversity score for fish farmers at 77.1% (CL: 95%) compared to 14.6% (CL: 95%) for non-fish-farmers on the high end Hoddinote Scale. From the measurement of the mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) of pre-school children, a correlation coefficient was determined to establish if there is a relationship between improved nutritional status and fish farming. Findings were that non-fish farmers experienced more food shortages than fish farmers. Children from fish farmers' households were well nourished as compared to those of non-fish farmers. This study will benefit farmers since they will adopt Best Management Practices in fish farming in order to improve their household food security and livelihoods through increased income. Increased fish farming will avail fish as food hence improved food and nutrition security to curb incidences of under-nutrition in preschool children and lactating mothers.
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic increases a family's food insecurity by reducing the family's ability to produce food, which compromises their output and income. This reduces their food availability, accessibility and acquisition, and interferes with regular nutritional intake. In response, households develop various coping strategies, especially in the context of food shortages. Arguably, microfinance (MF) has been advocated by many as an antidote to disasters affecting the households in different disaster contexts, such as famine, poverty, and tsunami occurrences. This study, therefore, sought to find out the contribution of MF to AIDS-affected households in terms of food access and coping strategies in Kakamega County, Kenya. Specifically, the study determined the effect of MF on the proportion of income spent on food, and number of meals consumed in a day. It also sought to illuminate the coping strategies adopted by AIDS-affected households with and without MF in the context of food shortages. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches with an experimental framework. A sample of 404 AIDS-affected household heads was included in the study. Findings from descriptive and inferential analyses revealed that over 50% of AIDS-affected households before MF were spending their income on food irrespective of loan status, and there was a highly statistically significant difference in the proportion of income spent on food by affected households with and without MF. Those households with MF spent almost twice of their income on food compared to those without MF. There was also a highly statistically significant difference in the number of meals consumed between those households with and without MF, in favour of those with MF. Households with MF took relatively more meals. Lastly, households without MF adopted more severe coping strategies when faced with food shortages. The study concluded that affected households with MF had easy access to food, ate the required number of meals and adopted less severe coping strategies. This was because MF services came as a package of money, training and advisory on business and health-related issues, which did not only improve household income but also enhanced food access and enabled adoption of less severe coping strategies in AIDS-affected households in Kakamega County.
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