| dc.description.abstract | The influence of food aid and food security intervention on the health of mothers and children
under the ages of 5 years were assessed in the project. Little is known about the effect of food aid
on mothers’ and child’s health outcomes. In Kenya drought has led to reduction in crop
production, rangeland and forest productivity; reduced water levels; increased fire hazard;
increased livestock and wildlife death rates and damage to wildlife. The objectives of the study
were; To assess the food distributed in the community of Wamba Division Samburu East
District, to assess the accessibility of the food aid by the mothers in Wamba Division Samburu
East District, to assess the quantity of foods supplied to the mothers and children of Samburu
East District, to assess food security in the community of Wamba Division Samburu East
District. The study adopted a cross-sectional design to collect quantitative and qualitative data to
address the research objectives and employed self-administered questionnaires and key
informant guides and focused group discussions to collect information from the respondents. A
sample size of 204 respondents was allocated proportionately to seven locations in Samburu East
District based on the number of households in each location. The data was analysed using
Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. The study identified the type of food aid provided in
Samburu East included maize, milk formulae, rice, soya beans, Oil, and sugar. Majority of the
respondents (53.4%) indicated they lacked nutritional knowledge. Concerning accessibility,
87.7% accessed the food aid distribution centers by walking, with 55.4% walking more than
three kilometers to the food distribution centers. This was a major challenge to the mothers who
had to walk long distances. The quantities distributed were not enough since 80% of the
respondents in the study received 2Kgs of maize that would last them for a whole week. Famine
is the main threat to Food security. Further, the study showed 62.7% of the respondents were
unemployed hence could not afford to buy food and 62.3% of respondents earned below one
dollar per day. The findings showed that in-adequate water, nomadic lifestyles and poverty
contribute majorly to food insecurity. It is recommended that the government should draft
policies and employ massive campaign on education in order to improve nutrition practices. The
Non-governmental organization and the government should employ Community Managed
Targeting and Distribution to provide food aid to the neediest people. The study concludes that
famine and lack of nutritious food affect food security and health of mothers and children in
Samburu East District. The results will assist the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations
and other actors’ improve food security, maternal and child health in the area. | en |
