Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement
Abstract Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are influenced by many context‐specific factors related to local food systems as well as social and cultural practices. Understanding these local contextual perspectives is essential for designing effective programs and policies. This paper us...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13334 |
| _version_ | 1797357663952044032 |
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| author | Judith Kimiywe Hope Craig Abigail Agyapong Andrew Thorne‐Lyman Patrick Matsisa Laura Kiige Patrick Codjia Christiane Rudert Stacy Katua Rose Wambu Betty Samburu Penjani Kamudoni Kudakwashe Chimanya Stella Nordhagen |
| author_facet | Judith Kimiywe Hope Craig Abigail Agyapong Andrew Thorne‐Lyman Patrick Matsisa Laura Kiige Patrick Codjia Christiane Rudert Stacy Katua Rose Wambu Betty Samburu Penjani Kamudoni Kudakwashe Chimanya Stella Nordhagen |
| author_sort | Judith Kimiywe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are influenced by many context‐specific factors related to local food systems as well as social and cultural practices. Understanding these local contextual perspectives is essential for designing effective programs and policies. This paper uses focused ethnographic study methods to examine challenges experienced by mothers related to IYCF in two counties in Kenya, a country with considerable heterogeneity in agriculture, food systems, and cultures. A two‐phase qualitative study was undertaken in each of Kilifi County and West Pokot County, entailing interviews and rating activities with mothers, health workers, and vendors. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, translated into English, coded, and analysed by topic. Results show low levels of dietary diversity in both counties; in West Pokot, the level of adequate meal frequency is also low. Core foods in young child diets included maize porridge and family foods such as ugali (stiff maize porridge), vegetables, beans, fish, and plantains. Food safety, acceptability, and acquisition ease were the main drivers of food choice. Mothers generally felt that all core foods fed to young children are healthy and safe, but there was more variability regarding child acceptance, acquisition ease, cost, and convenience. Common barriers to feeding nutrient‐dense foods to children included child illness, economic constraints, and limited knowledge of modification strategies, skills, or tools to make the foods suitable for young children. Potential actions to address these barriers include sharing information on child‐appropriate recipes; raising awareness on local, affordable nutrient‐dense foods; and improving WASH practices to reduce illness frequency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb775b149d32436f83fc5114ab387d6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb775b149d32436f83fc5114ab387d6e2024-01-11T07:02:25ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092024-01-0120S3n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13334Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvementJudith Kimiywe0Hope Craig1Abigail Agyapong2Andrew Thorne‐Lyman3Patrick Matsisa4Laura Kiige5Patrick Codjia6Christiane Rudert7Stacy Katua8Rose Wambu9Betty Samburu10Penjani Kamudoni11Kudakwashe Chimanya12Stella Nordhagen13Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics Kenyatta University School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences Nairobi KenyaDepartment of International Health Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USACollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cornell University Ithaca New York USADepartment of International Health Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USADepartment of Mathematics and Statistics Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Kenya Country Office Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Kenya Country Office Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Kenya Country Office Nairobi KenyaKenya Ministry of Health Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Kenya Country Office Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Kenya Country Office Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office Nairobi KenyaGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Geneva SwitzerlandAbstract Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are influenced by many context‐specific factors related to local food systems as well as social and cultural practices. Understanding these local contextual perspectives is essential for designing effective programs and policies. This paper uses focused ethnographic study methods to examine challenges experienced by mothers related to IYCF in two counties in Kenya, a country with considerable heterogeneity in agriculture, food systems, and cultures. A two‐phase qualitative study was undertaken in each of Kilifi County and West Pokot County, entailing interviews and rating activities with mothers, health workers, and vendors. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, translated into English, coded, and analysed by topic. Results show low levels of dietary diversity in both counties; in West Pokot, the level of adequate meal frequency is also low. Core foods in young child diets included maize porridge and family foods such as ugali (stiff maize porridge), vegetables, beans, fish, and plantains. Food safety, acceptability, and acquisition ease were the main drivers of food choice. Mothers generally felt that all core foods fed to young children are healthy and safe, but there was more variability regarding child acceptance, acquisition ease, cost, and convenience. Common barriers to feeding nutrient‐dense foods to children included child illness, economic constraints, and limited knowledge of modification strategies, skills, or tools to make the foods suitable for young children. Potential actions to address these barriers include sharing information on child‐appropriate recipes; raising awareness on local, affordable nutrient‐dense foods; and improving WASH practices to reduce illness frequency.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13334behaviourbeliefscommunitycomplementary feedingfood intakeinfant and child nutrition |
| spellingShingle | Judith Kimiywe Hope Craig Abigail Agyapong Andrew Thorne‐Lyman Patrick Matsisa Laura Kiige Patrick Codjia Christiane Rudert Stacy Katua Rose Wambu Betty Samburu Penjani Kamudoni Kudakwashe Chimanya Stella Nordhagen Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement Maternal and Child Nutrition behaviour beliefs community complementary feeding food intake infant and child nutrition |
| title | Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| title_full | Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| title_fullStr | Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| title_short | Diets of infants and young children in two counties of Kenya: Key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| title_sort | diets of infants and young children in two counties of kenya key drivers and barriers to improvement |
| topic | behaviour beliefs community complementary feeding food intake infant and child nutrition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13334 |
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