Sustainable aquatic food systems: Multisectoral analysis of determinants of child nutrition in coastal Kenya

Abstract

Marine foods produced by small-scale fishers can make vital contributions to sustainable, healthy food systems with multisectoral considerations of public health nutrition, gender equity, economics, and marine ecology. This pilot study aimed to map the multidimensional determinants of fish food security and young child nutrition in four coastal communities of Kenya with a view toward designing a large intervention trial. We compared anthropometric and dietary diversity indicators of children under 5 years in fishing vs. non-fishing households. Mixed methods included household surveys, 24-h recalls for dietary intake, and anthropometric measures of children. Child dietary diversity score (CDDS) and height-for-age Z (HAZ) were primary outcomes tested in ordinary least square regression modeling. Stunting was widely prevalent (20.2%), as were morbidities for acute diarrhea (29.0%) and fever (46.5%), with no statistically significant differences in fishing compared to non-fishing households. High proportions of children showed nutrient intake inadequacies for vitamins A, C, and E, iron and zinc; <50% met requirements for all nutrients except protein, which was derived primarily from plant-based foods. Regression modeling showed children living in fishing households were associated with lower CDDS. Maternal education, maternal body mass index (BMI), and household livelihood diversity were positively associated with both CDDS and HAZ, while child morbidities and north coast (of Mombasa) residence showed negative associations. Our findings highlight nutritional vulnerabilities within a coastal food system of Kenya and the need to involve multiple sectors—education, environment, health, finance, communications, and governance and policy—in deriving solutions.

The future of gender research in small‐scale fisheries: Priorities and pathways for advancing gender equity

“…Applications of a food systems approach are increasing in fisheries and aquaculture (Hicks et al, 2022;Kamau-Mbuthia et al, 2023;Simmance et al, 2021;Tezzo et al, 2021); however, most work on fish food systems to date lacks sufficient attention to gender, replicating general fisheries research patterns of gender-blindness (Gondwe et al, 2022;Hicks et al, 2022;Simmance et al, 2021).…”

“…Applications of a food systems approach are increasing in fisheries and aquaculture (Hicks et al., 2022; Kamau‐Mbuthia et al., 2023; Simmance et al., 2021; Tezzo et al., 2021); however, most work on fish food systems to date lacks sufficient attention to gender, replicating general fisheries research patterns of gender‐blindness (Gondwe et al., 2022; Hicks et al., 2022; Simmance et al., 2021). Given the central role of gender in shaping production, provisioning and consumption in food systems (Smith et al., 2024), a food systems approach in SSF must bring greater attention to gender in SSF food systems.…”

Considering the food environment can help to promote the consumption of aquatic foods for healthy diets

“…Samaki Salama aimed to improve young child nutrition in tandem with sustainable fisheries practices. Building on formative research that described the challenges and opportunities surrounding young child nutrition and fish consumption, a bundled intervention was developed (Cartmill et al, 2022;Kamau-Mbuthia et al, 2023). In one 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1241548 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 09 frontiersin.org component, a social behavioral change strategy targeted messages to fishing households to encourage retaining some fish for young child consumption.…”

Tropical fishery nutrient production depends on biomass-based management

“… 36 Along the Kenyan coast, fishing households are more food secure and consume more fish than their neighbors, but micronutrient intakes remain low among children across households, including for vitamin A, iron, and zinc. 37 , 38 , 39 In Seychelles, insufficient intakes of iron, zinc, and selenium are common among pregnant women, but increased fish consumption, which is more common among low-income individuals, is associated with sufficient intakes. 40 , 41 Across the WIO, however, data on fish consumption, nutrient intakes, and nutritional status are scarce.…”