| dc.description.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. . | en_US |
