Abstract
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of malnutrition among pre-school children can be used to determine the need for nutrition surveillance, nutritional care, or appropriate nutritional intervention programmes. Such data also indicate the target groups and where interventions are required.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the at risk groups, extent and magnitude, and regional distribution of malnutrition.
DESIGN
A cross sectional study.
SETTING
The survey was conducted in 14 districts representative of the eight provinces of Kenya.
SUBJECTS
Six thousand, four hundred and nineteen children (3294 males and 3125 females) aged six to 72 months selected using the cluster sampling technique from eight provinces were studied.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Anthropometric measures of height/length and weight were used to do the assessment.
RESULTS
The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 37%, 6% and 27% respectively. Stunting was highest among the 12-23 months age group (44.8%). A statistically significant difference (p = < 0.005) was found between boys and girls with regard to stunting. This difference was more remarkable when the two were stratified by age group where 29% of the boys were stunted compared to 20% of the girls. Geographically, it was found that there exists great regional disparities with a low (22.6%) in Kiambu and a high (56.5%) in Kwale districts.
CONCLUSION
These results show that malnutrition is still a serious public health problem in Kenya and requires urgent attention. The problem since the first survey in 1977 shows an upward trend, suggesting deterioration over the years. Well thought out and targeted intervention programmes are long overdue. The results of this survey and others emphasize the importance of having a well established surveillance system which would ensure necessary and timely action.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of malnutrition in Kenya.
AU - Ngare,D K,
AU - Muttunga,J N,
PY - 1999/10/16/pubmed
PY - 1999/10/16/medline
PY - 1999/10/16/entrez
KW - Africa
KW - Africa South Of The Sahara
KW - Age Factors
KW - Cross Sectional Analysis
KW - Demographic Factors
KW - Developing Countries
KW - Diseases
KW - Eastern Africa
KW - English Speaking Africa
KW - Health
KW - Infant
KW - Infant Nutrition
KW - Kenya
KW - Malnutrition
KW - Measurement
KW - Nutrition
KW - Nutrition Disorders
KW - Population
KW - Population Characteristics
KW - Prevalence
KW - Research Methodology
KW - Research Report
KW - Youth
SP - 376
EP - 80
JF - East African medical journal
JO - East Afr Med J
VL - 76
IS - 7
N2 - BACKGROUND: Prevalence of malnutrition among pre-school children can be used to determine the need for nutrition surveillance, nutritional care, or appropriate nutritional intervention programmes. Such data also indicate the target groups and where interventions are required. OBJECTIVE: To determine the at risk groups, extent and magnitude, and regional distribution of malnutrition. DESIGN: A cross sectional study. SETTING: The survey was conducted in 14 districts representative of the eight provinces of Kenya. SUBJECTS: Six thousand, four hundred and nineteen children (3294 males and 3125 females) aged six to 72 months selected using the cluster sampling technique from eight provinces were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measures of height/length and weight were used to do the assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 37%, 6% and 27% respectively. Stunting was highest among the 12-23 months age group (44.8%). A statistically significant difference (p = < 0.005) was found between boys and girls with regard to stunting. This difference was more remarkable when the two were stratified by age group where 29% of the boys were stunted compared to 20% of the girls. Geographically, it was found that there exists great regional disparities with a low (22.6%) in Kiambu and a high (56.5%) in Kwale districts. CONCLUSION: These results show that malnutrition is still a serious public health problem in Kenya and requires urgent attention. The problem since the first survey in 1977 shows an upward trend, suggesting deterioration over the years. Well thought out and targeted intervention programmes are long overdue. The results of this survey and others emphasize the importance of having a well established surveillance system which would ensure necessary and timely action.
SN - 0012-835X
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10520364/Prevalence_of_malnutrition_in_Kenya_
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
