Nutritional Status, Knowledge and Dietary Behavior of Primary School Children in Embakasi West Constituency, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Childhood is a critical period in the human lifecycle when an individual significantly grows and develops both physically and intellectually. Malnutrition in school children reduces physical, mental, and cognitive progress, which lowers their learning capability (Hwang, 2016). There exists an information gap regarding nutrition knowledge, nutrient intake and the nutritional status of children in public primary school level at Embakasi West Constituency. This study investigated the nutrition knowledge of primary school-going children in Embakasi West Constituency in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as assessed their nutrition status and dietary behavior. Objective: This study sought to assess nutritional knowledge, dietary behavior and the nutritional status of children in primary schools in Embakasi West constituency in Nairobi, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted an exploratory mixed methods study design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods. A total of 462 primary school children were sampled for the study. Quantitative data was collected through semistructured questionnaires, while qualitative data was gathered through focus group discussions and key Informants Interviews conducted from February to April 2023. Quantitative data was analyzed using the STATA software V14.0, while qualitative data was transcribed, coded and content and thematic analysis done. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to explore the association between nutrition knowledge and pupil-related factors. Results: Over a third of the pupils (38.6%) were moderately knowledgeable about good nutrition, 31.4% had high nutrition knowledge while 30% had low knowledge of nutrition. Pupils aged between 10-14 years were 3 times more likely to have a good

nutrition knowledge score than pupils below 10 years (OR= 3.1142, P<0.01). Upper primary pupils were 7 times more likely to report good nutrition knowledge scores than lower primary pupils (OR=7.0181, P<0.05). Female pupils were more likely to have a better knowledge score compared to male pupils (OR=0.58, P<0.05). Pupils who showed concern about the quantity and type of food they ate were 99% more likely to have a good nutrition knowledge score compared to pupils who were unconcerned or cared not about the quantity and type of food they ate (OR=1.9993, P<0.05). More than half of the respondents (60.4%) reportedly preferred fried foods over boiled or steamed foods, yet 61.5% knew that fried foods make people fat. More than half of children were thin (51.8%), while only 12.1% had normal nutrition status assessed by BMI for age. Thinness was higher among younger children than their older counterparts. Conclusions: Level of nutrition knowledge was associated with factors that included age, gender, dietary attitude, and school environment. There was an association between nutrition knowledge and dietary practices, but there was no association between nutrition knowledge and nutrition status. The pupil’s age and class level had a statistically significant association with nutrition status (P<0.05). Recommendations: Efforts should be made by schools to enhance pupils’ knowledge of nutrition, healthy diets, and their role in preventing nutrition deficiency diseases. Interactive nutrition promotion programs and activities such as nutrition clubs should be implemented by school administrators and teachers to support pupils’ nutrition awareness. The school administration should encourage parents and guardians to support implementation of the CBC curriculum by undertaking recommended practical assignments on nutrition & healthy diets which can contribute to advancing nutrition knowledge among children in primary schools.