Gaps in food security, food consumption and malnutrition in households residing along the baobab belt in Kenya

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to describe food insecurity status, food consumption patterns of households and nutritional status of families residing along the baobab belt in Kitui and Kilifi counties of Kenya. It also explores associations between these and household socio-demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study design was performed with a sample of 216 caregiver/child pairs interviewed. Tablet-based semi-structured questions were used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics of children (6-13 years) and caregivers. Food insecurity status was assessed using the household food insecurity experience scale. Information on food consumption was obtained from qualitative 24-h recall as a basis for calculating a household dietary diversity score. Data were also obtained from a non-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of children and caregivers’ height and weight were taken to assess their nutritional status. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 24 and WHO AnthroPlus 1.0.4. Findings The majority (98.2 per cent) of the households were food insecurity despite 81.5 and 57.4 per cent in Kitui and Kilifi counties, respectively, owning baobab trees. About 32.1 per cent of the households had poor dietary diversity scores (< 4). The prevalence of stunting (28.6 per cent), wasting (11.6 per cent) and underweight (25 per cent) rates among children were high. A significant association was observed between the children stunting rates with their age (p = 0.027), and also with household’s food security status (p < 0.001). Of the caregivers, 14.8 per cent were underweight, 18.1 per cent were overweight and 8.8 per cent were obese. There was significant association between the nutrition status of the caregivers and gender of the children (p < 0.001) and also with stunting rates of children (p = 0.047). Originality/value The study provides data on the current food security status and food consumption patterns of households and nutritional status of families residing along the baobab belt in Kenya which are mostly areas of marginal agricultural potential. The findings indicate a need for appropriate dietary improvements.

Nutrient-Dense Crops for Rural and Peri-Urban Smallholders in Kenya—A Regional Social Accounting Approach

“…The largest problems for food-insecure households in our sample were the utilization and stability dimensions. For the utilization dimension, dietary diversity needs to be improved throughout all income groups through nutrition education and increased access to safe and nutritious foods [2,44]. Further, our results suggest that diarrhoea especially in rural areas is still very prevalent and correlates with other food security indicators, showing that sanitary infrastructure investments are still needed in these areas.…”

“…Thus, even if the households have the means to buy or produce sufficiently nutritious food, they refrain from it. Reasons for this could lie in the lack of nutrition education [2] or the lack of supply of safe nutritious foods like vegetables and fruits [44]. Many households in our sample stated that they do not trust the food safety of fresh vegetables bought from the market, because they fear contamination through waste water or improper post-harvest handling.…”

“…Results of the cluster analysis showed that food security remains a challenge especially in rural areas. As compared to previous studies in Kenya [42,44], we investigated this problem with multiple indicators covering several dimensions of food security [29]. This way it became evident that while households in both areas were food secure according to the availability and access dimension, problems existed in the utilization and stability dimensions.…”

“…Prevalent in both groups of the population are deficiencies in micronutrient uptake, making Kenya range 2nd in Africa in terms of micronutrient deficiencies [2]. To tackle this problem, the currently low levels of dietary diversity must increase throughout the population [44].…”

Using a multi-stakeholder approach to increase value for traditional agroforestry systems: the case of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in Kilifi, Kenya

“…Poverty and food insecurity are highly prevalent. For example, poor dietary diversity scores and, amongst children, high rates of stunting and wasting have been observed (Momanyi et al 2019).…”