Nutritional status and feeding practices of children aged 0-23 months attending mother and child health clinic at Kikuyu Hospital, in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Nutrition is essential for children's growth, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life. Despite advancements, malnutrition continues to affect health and socio-economic development globally. In Kiambu County, Kenya, child malnutrition remains a significant issue, worsened by limited healthcare access, socio-economic disparities, and a lack of comprehensive data on children aged 0-23 months. The objectives of this study were: to determine breastfeeding feeding practices among mothers, to assess complementary feeding practices for infants and young children, and, to evaluate the nutritional status of children attending the MCH clinic at Kikuyu Hospital in Kiambu County. This was a cross-sectional study that involved the collection of socio-demographic data, 24-hour dietary recall, and anthropometric measurements from 279 consenting guardians of children aged 0-23months attending the mother and child clinic selected using simple random sampling where numbered papers (1-15) were drawn and those drawing even numbers were included in the study until the desired sample size was achieved. If some potential participants declined to take part, they were excluded prior to randomization, and randomization continued among consenting participants only. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze categorical and continuous data, with measures of central tendency applied. A chi-square test was performed to assess statistical significance between malnutrition and selected variables, with a significance level set at 0.05. The study found that most mothers were married (82.1%), Christian (99.6%), and Kikuyu (75.3%). About one-third had tertiary education (34.8%). 73% of children began breastfeeding immediately after birth, and 74% were exclusively breastfed for six months, complementary feeding largely consisted of grains, roots, and tubers (93.8%). However, 49% of children did not meet the WHO's recommended meal frequency, indicating inadequate complementary feeding. Stunting was the most prevalent type of malnutrition (21%), followed by wasting and underweight (6% each). Boys were more affected, and malnutrition was significantly associated with maternal employment, marital status, and education level. The study highlights significant progress in the initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding, with 73% of mothers starting breastfeeding immediately after birth and 74% maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Nonetheless, the early cessation of breastfeeding requires targeted intervention. The preference for grains and legumes in complementary feeding practices raises concerns about dietary diversity, essential for preventing malnutrition. Furthermore, the high prevalence of stunting resulted in 10% of children severely and 11% moderately stunted underscores the urgent need for policies promoting balanced diets and addressing socio-economic disparities affecting child nutrition. To tackle these challenges, the study recommends integrated interventions, including establishing breastfeeding support groups, implementing nutrition education initiatives, empowering unemployed parents’ socio-economically, strengthening the healthcare system, and prioritizing ongoing research efforts.