| dc.description.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. | en_US |
