Dietary Status of Pre-School Children in Urban and Rural Households in Kabarnet Division, Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

The number of children experiencing malnutrition globally declined from 221 million in 1980 to 100 million in 2010. However, sub- saharan African countries had an increase in the average prevalence of stunting of children under five years of age, with the number increasing from 35 million in 1980 to 47 million in 2005. This number is expected to rise to over 49 million by 2015 (Von Braun, 2007). The Eastern Africa region is the most affected in sub-Saharan Africa. Between the period 1980 - 2000, the number of stunted pre-school children increased from about 12.9 million to 24 million. This trend is estimated to continue, leading to about 25 million stunted children by 2015. Prevention of malnutrition becomes more feasible and cost effective if the groups at risk are identified in time and the causes of malnutrition are clearly understood. Against this background, there is a need to continually investigate the underlying status and causes of child malnutrition in different communities and settings. Consequently, this research set out to establish the dietary status of pre-school children in urban and rural households in Kabarnet Division, Baringo County, Kenya. The study population was all the pre-school children aged 3 to 5 years (36-60 months) living in households within the selected locations in Kabamet division of Baringo County. Using the national prevalence levels of stunting of 33.1% for Baringo county (KDHS, 2003), a sample size 340 respondents was chosen. For data collection, two methods were employed; questionnaires and observation. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Based on the results, it was concluded that preschool children had inadequate dietary intake of the nutrients assed i.e. energy, proteins, vitamin A and C in both surveys. Dietary inadequacies were notably high three months after harvest when most households had their food stocks depleted. Malnutrition levels in Kabarnet division were high among the pre-school children in both surveys. Both male and female children were equally malnourished. However, higher rates of stunting were reported among male children in both surveys. The study recommended that programs and interventions, which are aimed at improving household food security and alleviating malnutrition among preschool children in Kabamet division, Baringo district, should be put in place to include both rural and urban households.