Feasibility and effectiveness of supplementation with locally available foods in prevention of child malnutrition in Kenya

Abstract

Objective: To establish the operational feasibility and effectiveness of using locally available foods to prevent malnutrition and improve child growth in Kenyan children. Design: Quasi-experimental design with an intervention group of children in all villages in one region and a non-intervention group of children in all villages in an adjacent region. The intervention was the distribution of a monthly food ration for the index child, a separate family ration, and group education on appropriate complementary feeding and hygiene. Setting: Rural villages in the arid lands of eastern Kenya with a high prevalence of child malnutrition. Subjects: All children in the target villages aged 6-20 months with weight-forlength Z-score (WHZ) greater than 22 at baseline. Results: Children in the intervention and non-intervention groups had similar baseline anthropometric measures. The caregivers in the intervention group confirmed that the intended amounts of food supplements were received and child nutrient intake improved. During the 7-month intervention period there were significant group differences in pre-post Z-score changes between the intervention and non-intervention groups for weight-for-age (0?82, P , 0?001) and weight-for-height (1?19, P , 0?001), but not for height-for-age (20?20, P 5 0?09), after adjusting for multiple covariates. Compared with the non-intervention group, the intervention group had a lower prevalence of wasting (0 % v. 8?9 %, P 5 0?0002) and underweight (6?3 % v. 23?0 %, P , 0?0001). Infectious morbidity was similar in both groups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the distribution of locally available foods is operationally feasible and improves child weight gain and decreases acute malnutrition in Kenyan children.

Temporal changes and determinants of childhood nutritional status in Kenya and Zambia

“…In the Siaya, Kisumu, and Busia districts of Kenya, a high prevalence of childhood undernutrition was attributed to low maternal independence and high martial discord as childcare is not only affected by a mother’s direct actions with her child, but also through her social relationships with others because of the assistance that others provide [39]. In terms of food aid, a study in the Yatta district investigated the effectiveness of using local foods to improve the nutritional status of children and found that a small food ration provided to families resulted in a lower prevalence of wasting and underweight compared to control families [40]. Similar to our results, two studies in urban settlements of Nairobi (Korogocho and Viwandani) found that a higher maternal educational status was associated with higher nutritional status of her child [35, 41].…”

Algae for Africa: Microalgae as a source of food, feed and fuel in Kenya

“…In Kenya, 35% of children under the age of 5 have stunted growth, with 42% of these children living in Kenya's Eastern Province where they survive off a low energy maize based diet (Tomedi, 2012). These children would greatly benefit from the addition of a microalgae supplement in order to better their physical and neurological development as well as survival.…”

Supplementary feeding for improving the health of disadvantaged infants and children: what works and why?

“…The proportion of the child's daily recommended intake of energy provided by the supplementary food varied widely, from 8% to 136%. Seven of the programmes 4,[30][31][32][33][34][35] provided additional rations for the family (to reduce redistribution of the child's supplement).…”

“…Four studies found no difference in the incidence of illness between children who received supplementary food and those who did not, while two studies reported that children who received supplementary food were more likely to be unwell. 24,30,33,42,77 A range of illnesses were studied as outcomes, including fever, diarrhoea and respiratory infection.…”

“…71 Studies in the realist review suggested that this would be more likely if the supplement was based on local ingredients which he or she already found palatable. 33,40,47,61,71 Supplements with a high fat or protein content may also be more palatable, but this was not tested in any study. …”