Prevalence and Predictors of Geophagy among Adolescent Girls in Likuyani District of Kakamega County

Abstract

Geophagy is the regular and deliberate eating of soil by humans. Geophagy is a widespread practice in western Kenya. Geophagy significantly increases the risk of infestation with Ascaris , impair the absorption of micronutrients and cause micronutrient deficiency, particularly iron. It is estimated that approximately half of adolescent girls living in sub-Saharan Africa are anemic. Adverse effects of anemia range from severe morbidity to decreased physical work capacity to deficits in cognitive development and potentially school performance. The relationship between geophagy with iron status and anaemia is still obscure, it has not been clearly elucidated whether it is geophagy that causes iron deficiency, or it is iron deficiency that causes geophagy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of geophagy among adolescent girls. The study was done in secondary boarding schools in Likuyani District of Kakamega County, Kenya. A cross sectional survey was done on 302 girls. Random sampling was used to come up with a representative sample. The prevalence of geophagy was 45%. Predictors of geophagy were geophagic mothers/ guardians and family size. Anemia was not a significant predictor of geophagy. Geophagy is practiced for psychosomatic reasons rather than nutritional. In areas where proper hygiene is practiced, geophagy may not be a risk factor of helminthes infestation. Primary nutrition education is needed to ensure a greater awareness of geophagy and its implications.