%0 Journal Article
%T Nutrition Status of Children Under-Five Years in Cassava Consuming Communities in Nambale, Busia of Western Kenya
%A Rhoda Azikoyo Nungo
%A Michael Wandayi Okoth
%A Samuel Kuria Mbugua
%J Food and Nutrition Sciences
%P 796-801
%@ 2157-9458
%D 2012
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/fns.2012.36107
%X A study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of under-five child population within cassava consuming community in Nambale of western Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio economic data, 24-hour food re-call and anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were used while Pearson¡¯s Chi Square and correlation coefficient (R) were used to test for statistical associations. A total of 320 households with 232 children participated. The findings showed nutrition status of children to be poor (<-2 SD), 26.6% were stunted, 13.9% underweight, and 10.1% were wasting. Malnutrition had reached its peak during the third year affecting boys more than girls despite a high mean score (9.2) for household dietary diversity. The findings established cassava utilization to be high (94.3%) and mainly as ¡°porridge, boiled roots and ugali¡±. Eight staples including cassava were used for weaning and 66.4% of the children were fed three times daily. Cassava utilization was not a determinant of child nutrition status. Age of child and education level of head of household had strong but negative influence on child nutrition status, (Pearson¡¯s R = -0.207: -0.174) indicating >50% changes in stunting could not be attributed to age of child or education level of the head of household. Farm ownership was a strong positive determinant of nutrition status, Pearson¡¯s R = 0.233. This study has established that cassava cushions hunger and there is need to improve nutrient content.
%K Cassava
%K Children
%K Nutritional Status
%K Utilization
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=19936