Nutritional Problems And Policy In Kenya, With Special Reference To Child Health

Abstract

Undernutrition is a major pubric health prgblem ·in Kenya. Among ," the"most important nutritional deficiency diseases are PEM, nutritional anemiasjendemic goiter and vitamin A deficiency. Other common but less "\ " , " important are vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Other nutritional problems discussed include long-term effe~ts of early childhood malrutrition in growth and development, the problem of reference population; mate~al and infant feeding practices; milk intolerance; and the relationship of nutrition and infection. Priorities in nutrition research and intervention programs for Kenya are presented while emphasizing the role of multisectoral nutritional planning and implementation. Agricultural and economic aspects of food supp,ly and demand; poverty alleviation by appropriate income distribution are discussed briefly. <, Other strategies to improve childhood nutrition include promotion of i breast feeding, use.of locally available foods, curtailing of inappropriate promotion an~ sale of infant foods, environmental clean-up and an overall improvement in standards of living of the majority of the people in the long term. Shprter-term activities include health and nutrition education, supplementary feeding programs, treatment and rehabilitation of severely malnourished children. Nutrition research is recognized as one of the tools to provide invaluable data far planning __and evaluation.