Determination of the nutritional status of preschool children (=5 years) among resident estate workers of brooke bond tea estates at Limuru and small scale farmers in the adjoining area
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional
status of children of resident estate workers
and small scale farmers, their morbidity experience
and the factors that show assocIation with the nutritional
status.
Data was collected using a structured questionnaire,
and weight and height measurements were
taken for the children. The survey was conducted in a
random sample of 200 households of smal I scale farmers
with 305 children and 200 households of estate
workers with 253 children.
Eighteen percent of the children of smal scale
tarmers had a weight-tar-age deticit «80% of
National Center for Health Statistics lNCHS)
standards), while 35.2% of the children of the estate
workers had a weight-far-age deficit. The
was statistically significant (p<O.05).
Of the children surveyed, 21.3% tram the small
ditference
scale farms had a height-far-age deticit «90 % of
NCHS standards), while 41.1% at the children at
estate workers had a height-far-age deficit. 1'he
difference was statistically signiticant (p<0.05).
Though 14.0% of the children of the smal I scale
farmers had a weight-tar-height deficit (90% NCHS
standards), while 15.8% of the children of estate
workers had a weight-for-height deticit. the ditterenee
was not statistically sIgnIficant.
There was a higher prevalence of diarrhea, cough,
fever and vomiting among the chIldren of the
ot the estate workers as compared
households
to those
tram the households of small scale tarmers.
The households of the small scale farmers are
general ly better off socia-economically, although
they have bigger families, more dependents
Citation
Masters Degree In Applied Human NutritionPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of food technology and nutrition
Description
A thesis submitted in part fulfillment for the Master
Degree of in Applied Human Nutrition
in The University of Nairobi