Maternal Perception on Use of Edible Insects for Complementary Feeding and Nutritional Status of Children in Kakamega and Siaya Counties, Kenya

Despite the high protein levels, essential fatty acids and minerals that are found in edible insects, they are still not being used in complementary feeding. The aim of this study was to investigate maternal perception on use of edible insects for complementary feeding and nutrition status of children in Kakamega and Siaya Counties, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical design which was used on a sample of 592 mother-child pairs (aged 6-23 months) in Kisa North, West Yimbo and West Ugenya wards. Majority of the mothers were in the childbearing age group of 15-49 years, were married and 57.9% in Kisa North, 65.7% in West Ugenya and 64.6% in West Yimbo had attained primary education. Generally, 50.9%, 54.2% and 48.8% of the household heads in Kisa North, West Ugenya and West Yimbo, respectively had attained primary education. About 49.5% and 38.9% of the mothers in Kisa North and West Ugenya practiced farming while 35.3% of those in West Yimbo engaged in business. About 40.3% of the household heads in West Ugenya were farmers, 48.7% in Kisa North were casual labourers while 66.3% in West Yimbo engaged in fishing. Approximately 42.1%, 33.7% and 39.3% of the mothers in Kisa North, West Ugenya and West Yimbo respectively disagreed about the use of edible insects for complementary feeding. More than half (65.3%, 56.6% and 61.7%) of the children in Kisa North, West Ugenya and West Yimbo respectively attained the Minimum Dietary Diversity. More than half (58.9% and 55.8%) of the children in West Yimbo and West Ugenya respectively and 29.7% in Kisa North attained the Minimum Acceptable Diet. In terms of nutrition status, the prevalence rates of wasting were (6.3% in West Ugenya, 7.0% in West Yimbo and 6.0% in Kisa North), stunting rates (19.5% in West Ugenya and an equal proportion of 19.9% in West Yimbo and Kisa North) and underweight rates (9.2% in West Ugenya, 9.0% in West Yimbo and 8.8% in Kisa North). There were significant relationships between the maternal perceptions of the appropriateness of insects in complementary food and the ward of residence ( ²=16.86, p value=0.030), marital status of the mother ( ²=11.14, p value=0.025), main source of income for the household head ( ²=33.35, p value=0.007) and the education level of the household head ( ²=48.67, p value=0.009). This information will be useful to the Ministry of Health through the division of nutrition for inclusion in the MIYCN policy the use of edible insects as a complementary food.