Determinants of nutrition status in children aged 6-59 months, in kiandutu informal settlement, Thika, Kenya

Rachael Ireri; Nyanchoka Abednego Moriasi; Margaret Mburu; Joseph Ndungu; Mukuria S Kiarie

Determinants of nutrition status in children aged 6-59 months, in kiandutu informal settlement, Thika, Kenya

Authors
Rachael Ireri, Nyanchoka Abednego Moriasi, Margaret Mburu, Joseph Ndungu, Mukuria S Kiarie

Abstract
Introduction: Globally, more than 80% of countries face different forms of malnutrition which attribute to about 45% of deaths in children. The 2019 Global Nutrition Report indicated that under-five malnutrition rates remain high. Under-five undernutrition is the most common form of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries, and Africa experiences high levels (36%). The majority of the undernutrition cases in Africa are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya.

Objective: This study aimed to assess determinants of nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in Kiandutu informal settlement; Thika, Kenya.

Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was used. Multi staged stratified sampling followed by systematic random sampling was used to reach caregiver-child pairs from different households. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized tools and methods. Data was analyzed using WHO-Anthro Analyzer, and IBM SPSS version 26.0.

Setting: Kiandutu Informal settlement, Thika; Kiambu County, Kenya

Participants: 170 children aged 6-59 months living in Kiandutu.

Results: The results of this study revealed that 18.8% and 34.7%children were underweight and stunted. The prevalence of wasting using WHZ was 15.3% and 9% using MUAC. Child immunization (p<0.01) and breast feeding (p<0.05) were significantly associated with underweight. Stunting was significantly associated with the house household decision maker (p<0.05), type of food feed first (p<0.05) and child well clinic visits (p<0.05). Child wasting (WHZ) was significantly associated with the house hold decision maker (p<0.01), and wasting (MUAC) was significantly associated with child age group (p<0.001), child breast feeding (p<0.05), reports of diarrhea during the last two weeks’ prior the survey (p<0.01) and child wellness clinic visit (p=0.05).

Conclusion: Our results reveals that childhood malnutrition remains an important public health nutrition concern in the informal settlements. There is need to address access to sustainable diets, nutrition education and improving livelihoods of populations in informal settlements.

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