Determinants Of Under-Five Malnutrition In Kenya

Abstract

The objective of the study was to establish determinants of malnutrition among children aged 0-59 months in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effects of socio-economic factors on under-five malnutrition in Kenya, to investigate the effects of bio-demographic factors on under-five malnutrition in Kenya and to determine the effects of socio-cultural factors on under-five malnutrition in Kenya. The main source of data was 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). The descriptive analysis and logistic regression were the main methods of data analysis. The bivariate results revealed that all socio economic, bio-demographic and social cultural factors were significantly associated with under-five malnutrition. Multivariate analysis results revealed that the independent variables had a significant influence on the odds of malnutrition among children under-five. Based on these findings the study found that lower age at child birth, longer duration of breastfeeding, low birth order and a low birth interval increased the likelihood of malnutrition among children under-five. The analysis reveals that stunting and wasting still remain a public health issue in Kenya and a contributor to under-five mortality. Key recommendation of this study are both academic and policy; a recommendation of further research that is qualitative in nature and recommendation on government policy to boost nutrition levels and nutrition programs of under-five children in Kenya.