Comparative Study of Rice Bran Utilization And Anthropometric Profiles of Children Aged 6-59 Months in Rice-Growing Counties Kirinyaga, Kisumu and Kwale in Kenya

Abstract

Undernutrition is a critical global health issue, responsible for over half of all deaths among children under five. In developing countries, an estimated 143 million children are underweight, with Kenya reporting 82,000 annual deaths, significantly affecting vulnerable rural populations. This study provides a baseline assessment of the nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in the rice-growing regions of Kirinyaga, Kisumu, and Kwale counties in Kenya. The study aimed to establish the prevalence of undernutrition and to determine whether rice bran is could be utilized in complementary feeding practices within these communities. This baseline data is crucial for designing and introducing a rice bran feeding trial to potentially improve child nutrition outcomes. Simple random sampling selected 30 households with children under five years in each cluster. Using a cross-sectional study design, data collection involved semi-structured questionnaires administered to caregivers per region. A total of 1,218 children were assessed between January and march 2023, the sample sizes included about 423 (34.7%) children in Kirinyaga, Kisumu (32.3%), and Kwale 401 (32.9%). Anthropometric measurements of weight, height and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) were taken using standardized equipment. The ENA for SMART application was used to analyze anthropometric data, interpreted using WHO standards (2006). Comparing underweight prevalence of this study with the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 report, Kwale had 14%, Kirinyaga 6%, and Kisumu 4%, while this study’s prevalence was 9.6% KWwale,4.7% Kirinyaga and 1.5% in Kisumu. Severe Stunting rates were also Slightly lower: Kirinyaga (12.1%), Kisumu (11.1%), and Kwale (17.1%) compared to the reported KDHS 2022 Severe stunting prevalences of Kiriyanga 11%, Kisumu 9% and Kwale 23.0%. For severe Wasting, Kirinyaga was 3.7%, Kisumu 2.2% while Kwale gave 5.2% Prevalence. High rates of malnutrition were observed, particularly in Kwale, where severe stunting affected 17.1% of children, severe wasting was present in 5.3%, and edema was recorded in 12.9% of cases. In all the three selected Rice growing areas the male children had a significantly higher frequency of stunting, Compared to female children. Further results indicate that while awareness of rice bran is relatively high in some regions—77.6% in Kirinyaga and 70.8% in Kisumu—it is overwhelmingly perceived as animal feed rather than as a food supplement for humans. A minority of participants across all regions agree that rice bran is a nutritious food product with significant health benefits. Only 19.6% of the total respondents agree with this statement, while 34.0% remain neutral, and a substantial 46.7% disagree. Regionally, Kwale has the highest agreement (27.4%), followed by Kirinyaga (24.6%) and Kisumu (6.1%). This indicates a general lack of recognition of the health benefits of rice bran among the communities. A majority of respondents perceive rice bran as best suited for feeding animals, with 55.3% agreeing with this statement. County governments in Kirinyaga, Kisumu, and Kwale should implement agricultural policies promoting rice bran awareness and its nutritional importance among farming households and consumers. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of rice bran consumption on child nutrition and to identify the most effective strategies for its integration into local diets.