Childhood malnutrition in under five years old children in Kenya

The aim of this book was to establish the nutritional status and socio-economic factors predisposing under five-years-old children at Kenyatta National hospital to protein energy malnutrition. A total of 118 children aged below 60 months were targeted for the study. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted. Sampling was done using purposive non probability and systematic sampling. The method that was used for data collection was interview and the tools which were utilised were questionnaires and anthropometric equipments (weighing scale and height/length board). The data was collected and entered into computer packages for analysis and presentation. The SPSS statistical program was used for analysis of the factors while the anthropometric statistical program was used to convert raw anthropometric data into anthropometric indices and then was compared with the National centre Health statistics (NCHS) reference figures. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 59.3%; 53.3%; and 33.9% respectively. There was a significant relation between stunting and complementary feeding and wastingwith the type of alternative caregiver.

Autorentext

Sherry Oluchina holds a BScN and MScN(Pediatrics), while Nguka Gordon holds Diploma Clinical medicine and Surgery,Bsc Nutrition and Dietetics, PGD Pediatrics and Msc Clinical Nutrition and Pediatric Epidemiology. Both are Lecturers in Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and are currently persuing their PhD in respective areas.