Prevalence and risk factors of under-nutrition among under-five’s in Meru County: a comparative study of khat(catha edulis) and non-khat farming households in Kenya

Abstract

Poor nutrition status among children below five years continues to be a public health concern especially in the arid and semi arid areas. The effect of khat farming on nutrition status of children remained largely unknown necessitating this study. The general objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of under-nutrition and identify risk factors of under-nutrition among children from six to fifty-nine months among khat and non-khat farming households in Igembe North District, Meru County. In August/September 2012 a comparative cross sectional study involving randomly selected households was conducted among 245 households of whom 93 and 152 were non-khat and khat farming households respectively and had children aged six to fifty nine months. One child was randomly selected; in households with more than one child within the target age category one child was randomly chosen. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire, key informant interview question guide, focused group discussion question guide and anthropometric measurement sheet. Data collected on the households included: demographic characteristics of the households, socio-economic status, the child care practices, animal rearing, crop farming, water hygiene and sanitation. Data collected on the child included: age, sex, anthropometric measurements, immunization and morbidity. Nutrition status was assessed using anthropometric indices and WHO 2006 child growth reference standards. Descriptive data analysis was done and Ordinal Logistic regression was employed to identify risk factors of under-nutrition. The results showed that prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was not significantly different between khat and non-khat farming households. Stunting was identified as the main xvi problem affecting both khat (50%) and non-khat (55%) farming households. The two households‟ types had high prevalence of stunting than the national level (35%). Khat farming households had better socio economic status as reflected by higher monthly income, and ownership of more and variety of livestock compared to non-khat farming households. The proportion of mothers with post primary school education (9.4%) was lower than the national average (20.6%). However, higher proportion of mothers in non-khat (12.9%) farming households‟ had post primary education compared to khat (7.2%) farming households. In the two households‟ types the frequency of breastfeeding children and those adequately fed declined as child age progressed towards twenty four months. More fathers from khat farming households‟ were involved in childcare activities than in non-khat farming households. The risk factors of stunting among non-khat farming households included: household size, birth order and number of males in a household, among khat farming households the risk factors included: age of household head, household assets, source of livelihood and the proportion of income spent on food. In conclusion khat farming was not a risk factor of under-nutrition among khat farming households. The findings of this study imply that household‟s members, government and development partners need to improve existing initiatives and develop interventions to correct stunting in the study area. Key words: Khat farming, Socio-economic, Under-nutrition, Under-fives, Igembe North, Childcare practices