| dc.description.abstract | Freedom from hunger is the most fundamental human right that can be obtained if an
individual is food secure. Nearly 1.02 billion people are food insecure and one-third of
pre-school children in developing countries are malnourished. It's assumed that
increasing household income and/or agricultural production would consequently improve
food security and nutritional status yet malnutrition in irrigation schemes have
consistently remained high since the 1960's. Factors influencing food security and
nutritional status in Mwea- Tebere Irrigation Scheme have received little attention.
The objective of this study was to assess household food security and nutrition situation
and associated factors in Mwea-Tebere Irrigation Scheme. A cross-sectional study was
conducted in 200 households with a child aged 6-59 months. Data was collected through
qualitative and quantitative approaches using pretested structured, semi-structured
questionnaires and focused group discussion guides. Household food security indicators
included food production, socio-economic status, household three-day food record (food
availability), household dietary diversity and food coping strategies while underweight,
stunting and wasting for children aged 6-59 months were used to assess nutri tional status.
Random sampling and improved EPr method were used to sample households.
Nutritional status was analyzed using weight-far-age, weight-for-height ami height-forage
z-scores of WHO (2006) and mid-upper ann circumference. Food coping strategies
and socio-economic status were analyzed using weighted scoring index developed o
through focused group discussions. Energy and protein availability was assessed through
adult equivalents at household level. Results were analyzed by descriptive statistics,
ANOVA, bivariate and partial correlations and regression analysis. SPSS v. 16, Excel
2007, Nutrisurvey 2007, ENA for SMART 2008 softwares were used for data analysis.
The mean household size was 4.5± 1.6 with male to female ratio of 0.9. Male-headed
households were 80%. The main source of household income was casual labour and 75%
of that income was spent on food. About 72% or households Lived below one dollar per
capita income per day. The mean household dietary diversity score was 6.2(SD=0.9) with
98% of households consuming more than 4 food groups. Global and severe acute
malnutrition prevalence were 5.1 % (Cl: 2.3-10.8) and 0.5% (Cl: 0.1-4.9) respectively.
Underweight and stunting prevalence were 14.2% (Cl: 9.1-21.5) and 32.5% (Cl: 21.7-
45.7) respectively. Majority of the households used unsafe water. Children were more
likely to experience diarrhoea for drinking untreated water (Odds ratio: 1.13,0.53-2.41).
Morbidity experiences were high (64%) with acute respiratory infections being most
prevalent followed by febrile illness and diarrhoea. A sick child was more likely to be
wasted than a well child (Odds ratio: 1.75, CI: 0.46-6.7). Household income and
proportion of income spent on food positively correlated with household caloric and
protein availability (1'2=0.056, p<0.05) but not with nutritional status of children under
five years old. Increase in income was associated with increase in household dietary
diversity (p<0.05) as well as household protein (p<O.Ol) and energy (p<0.05) availability
per consumer unit. Larger households were more food insecure than smaller households
(p<O.Ol). Household dietary diversity correlated with nutrient intake of household
members (r2=0.033, p=O.O1).
No individual measure suffices to capture all dimensions of food security and a suite or
indicators are used to cover the different dimensions of food security. Although the
dietary diversity in Mwea-Tebere Irrigation Scheme is high, it does not translate into
adequate nutrient intake in the households probably because the amounts are inadequate.
Thus the cosmopolitan nature of the area contributes to high dietary diversity that does
not necessarily result into adequate dietary intake. Hence, household dietary diversity is
not a good measure of food security in monocropping communities. Using 3-day food
record, majority or the households are food insecure while acute and chronic malnutrition
is at alert and serious levels respectively. There is no direct relationship between food
security and nutritional status. Furthermore, food security and economic growth do not.
necessarily translate to improved nutrition. Therefore, a multi sectoral approach that will
address household dynamics, health and sanitation is necessary to improve nutritional
status in Mwea- Tebere rice irrigation scheme and in other monocropping agricultural
projects. | en |
