Food systems, socio-demographic factors and the nutritional Status of children 6-24 months in Obunga slums, Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is grappling with many public health problems; one of the most critical is childhood malnutrition. Underweight rates are 10.1%, stunting 17.6%, and wasting 4.9 %. In Obunga slums, stunting was 40.2% for children below sixty months, underweight at 10.2%, and wasting at 9%. Globally, children between 6-24 months contribute the most to malnutrition among under-fives. Nevertheless, after 24 months, stunting, an indicator of chronic malnutrition, is irreversible. Obunga slums, compared to other slums in Kenya, registered the highest levels of stunting at 40.5% despite various interventions. Some of the risk factors that recurrently exist as determinants of nutritional status in urban slums are socio-demographic factors. Other potential factors which seem to be ignored are the food systems-related socio-demographics, which seem to be in constant aetiology. This study determined the relationship between food systems, socio-demographic factors, and the nutritional status of children between 6-24 months. Specifically, to assess the nutritional status, determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and nutritional status, determine the relationship between the broad food system and nutritional status, and determine the relationship between the community food system and nutritional status. A crosssectional design was adopted, and households with a child aged 6-24 months in Obunga slums were included. A sample of 189 children was selected through a simple random sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to collect data on broad food systems, community food systems, and socio-demographic factors. The anthropometric assessment was used to collect data on the nutritional status of the children. Data analysis was done through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The results reveal that a total of 189 children, 108 males and 81 females, were part of the study. Prevalence of wasting was at 3.2%, overweight at 6.9%, stunting at 27.0%, and underweight at 7.4%. Socio-demographic factors: wasting was associated with the child’s birthweight (A.O.R = 0.021, C.I. =0.001 -0.524) and caregiver’s level of education (A.O.R = 11.431, C.I. = 1.407 - 92.857). Stunting was associated with the child’s age (A.O.R = 1.099, C.I. = 1.021 -1.183) and household daily earnings (O.R. = 0.708, C.I. =0.512 -0.978). Being Underweight was associated with the occupation of the caregiver (A.O.R = 0.217, C.I. = 0.52 - 0.900). Broad food systems: Wasting was associated with the food price of fruits (A.O.R = 10.822, C.I. =1.097 -106.774), child consumption of commercially produced food complementary food (O. R=7.818, C.I. =1.056 -33.596) and commercially produced food (O.R. = 5.957, C.I. =1.56 - 33.596). Stunting was associated with listening/reading/watching promotional practices for commercial food at (O. R=0.486, C.I. = 0.237 -0.998). Underweight was associated with the price of fruits at (A.O.R =5.435, C.1. =1.367-21.610). Community Food Systems: An increase in the food sources increased the prevalence of underweight both at a (Crude O.R. =19.500, C.I. =1.61- 236.61) and at an (A.O.R. = 21.331, C.I. =1.370-332.239). While frequency in the child consumption of food from restaurants/hotels increased wasting by 14 times (A.O.R of 14.52, C.I. = 1.39 -151.71 P<0.05). However, purchasing foods from restaurants and hotels reduced stunting by 0.13 times (A.O.R = 0.13, C.I. = 0.02 - 0.90, P<0.05). This study is significant, as it’s the first study in Obunga slums, enumerating insight into the relationship between food systems and nutrition status. This will o help to align food systems and mitigate child malnutrition in Obunga slums and similar settings. .