Thesis:

Determinants of nutritional status of under-five children In Tana river county in Kenya

The prevalence of acute malnutrition was very high in the counties of Turkana Central, North, and South, Tana River, Kilifi, and Marsabit. Even if there have been some improvements in the food supply since February 2023, the scenario is still one that should be reason for alarm. It is anticipated that the food security situation will become more precarious in most countries during the following several months. According to Ministry of Health projections, there will be 39,068 pregnant and nursing women and 420,674 children who are severely malnourished between the ages of 6 and 59 months in ASAL and urban areas by 2023. Since underweight indicates both low height for age and low weight for age, this study concentrated on underweight stunted growth. Underweight is an immediate sign of both persistent and severe malnutrition. This study's main objectivewas to identify the factors that contribute to Tana River County infants and toddlers' diminutive stature for age in comparison to other county residents. The particular objectives are as follows: to investigate the role that culture plays in contributing to this issue; to analyze the influence that socioeconomic variables have on contributing to this problem; and to investigate the role that bio demographics play in contributing to this problem. In methodology, this study used a cross-sectional approach. Purposive, systematic, and simple random sampling methods were employed to recruit study respondents in this study. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain quantitative data from the study respondents. The sample size for this study was 385 study participants. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed in this research. Frequency and percentages were used to describe the data while chi-square and logistics regression were employed to execute statistical association. Statistical significance was set at a P≤0.05. Ethical clearance was sought from the MKU ethics and review committee as well as NACOSTI. The prevalence of malnutrition in this study was 35.1% which is a public health concern.. In the second objective concerning bio-demographic factors associated with nutrition status, study respondents aged 0-11 months, guardians having no formal education reduced the odds of having a normal nutrition status while having a guardian who had been provided with health education on infant feeding practices increased the odds of having a normal nutrition status. In the third objective concerning social economic factors associated with nutrition status; being food insecure, and lack of access to safe sanitation reduced the odds of having a normal nutrition status while having a small household size of 1-3 members increased the odds of having a normal nutrition status. In the fourth objective concerning social-cultural factors associated with nutrition status while absence of gender roles increased the odds of having a normal nutrition status while the presence of cultural norms and stigma reduced the odds of having a normal nutrition status. The county government of Tana-River, the Ministry of Health, and relevant stakeholders should implement the various recommendations provided by the study to tackle the probem of malnutrition in this region which is a public health menace