Dietary Practices and Nutritional Status of Children 6–59 Months in Kajiado Central, Kenya

Abstract

Malnutrition remains a significant public health concern among children, with inadequate dietary diversity and poor feeding practices contributing to undernutrition and related health complications. Undernutrition remains a significant public health concern in Kajiado County, particularly among children between 6–59 months, despite the several interventions that have been put in place. This study examines the dietary practices and nutritional status of children aged 6–59 months in Kajiado Central, Kenya, to assess their nutrient intake and how it influences their nutritional status. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 198 caregiver-child pairs. Dietary practices were assessed based on breastfeeding practices, minimum dietary diversity scores (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Anthropometric measurements were used to determine weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores. The association between dietary practices and nutritional status was analyzed using chi-square tests and multiple logic regression. Continued breastfeeding was significantly associated with mild wasting (p = 0.005) at one year and with stunting (p = 0.044) at two years. Majority of the children (30.3%) scored a 4 on the dietary diversity scale, with majority not meeting the recommended MDD score (138). Only 17.7% achieved the recommended MMF and 4.5% of children met MAD criteria. Children with higher dietary diversity were found to be 39% less likely to be mildly wasted (OR = 0.61, p = 0.02) and 2.23 times more likely to have normal nutritional status (OR = 2.23, p = 0.01). MMF adherence was significantly associated with reduced wasting (p = 0.019), as well as MDD (p=0.02) while no significant associations were found between MAD and nutritional status (p > 0.05). Poor dietary diversity and inadequate MMF contribute to malnutrition among children in Kajiado Central.  Targeted interventions promoting diverse diets and frequent meals are crucial for improving child nutrition in this region.