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Improvement of Dietary Diversity and Attitude toward Recommended Feeding through Novel Community Based Nutritional Education Program in Coastal Kenya—An Intervention Study

Author

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  • Mami Hitachi

    (Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Violet Wanjihia

    (Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 20752-00202, Kenya)

  • Lilian Nyandieka

    (Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 20752-00202, Kenya)

  • Chepkirui Francesca

    (Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kenyatta University, Nairobi 43844-00100, Kenya)

  • Norah Wekesa

    (Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI graduate school, Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya)

  • Juma Changoma

    (NUITM-KEMRI Project, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM), Nagasaki University, Nairobi 19993-00202, Kenya)

  • Erastus Muniu

    (Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 20752-00202, Kenya)

  • Phillip Ndemwa

    (Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 20752-00202, Kenya)

  • Sumihisa Honda

    (Department of Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Kenji Hirayama

    (Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Mohammed Karama

    (Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI graduate school, Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya)

  • Satoshi Kaneko

    (Department of Eco-epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

Abstract

Community-based nutritional intervention to improve the practice of dietary diversity and child nutrition by community health workers (CHWs) involving Nyumba Kumi as small neighborhood units (SNUs) in communities has not yet been explored. This study was conducted in two villages in rural Kenya between 2018 and 2019. In total, 662 participants (control vs. intervention: n = 339 vs. n = 323) were recruited. The intervention group received education on maternal and child nutrition and follow-up consultations. The custom-tailored educational guidelines were made based on Infant and Young Child Feeding and the mother and child health booklet. The educational effects on household caregivers’ feeding practice attitude and child nutritional status were analyzed using multiple linear regression. After the intervention, a total of 368 household caregivers (187 vs. 181) and 180 children (113 vs. 67) were analyzed separately. Between the groups, no significant difference was found in their background characteristics. This study successfully improved the dietary diversity score (β = 0.54; p < 0.01) and attitude score (β = 0.29; p < 0.01). The results revealed that the interventions using CHWs and SNUs were useful to improve dietary diversity and caregivers’ attitudes toward recommended feeding. This research has the potential to be successfully applied in other regions where child undernutrition remains.

Suggested Citation

  • Mami Hitachi & Violet Wanjihia & Lilian Nyandieka & Chepkirui Francesca & Norah Wekesa & Juma Changoma & Erastus Muniu & Phillip Ndemwa & Sumihisa Honda & Kenji Hirayama & Mohammed Karama & Satoshi Ka, 2020. "Improvement of Dietary Diversity and Attitude toward Recommended Feeding through Novel Community Based Nutritional Education Program in Coastal Kenya—An Intervention Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7269-:d:423913
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wise, Victoria & Tefft, James F. & Kelly, Valerie A. & Staatz, John M., 2002. "Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Child Feeding and Care: Preliminary Insights from the Project on Linkages between Child Nutrition and Agricultural Growth," Food Security International Development Policy Syntheses 11467, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Pallas, S.W. & Minhas, D. & Pérez-Escamilla, R. & Taylor, L. & Curry, L. & Bradley, E.H., 2013. "Community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: What do we know about scaling up and sustainability?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(7), pages 74-82.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cristina Jardí & Byron David Casanova & Victoria Arija, 2021. "Nutrition Education Programs Aimed at African Mothers of Infant Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.

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