Effects of Household Food Expenditure on Nutritional Status Among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Vihiga County, Kenya

Abstract

The children nutritional status in Kenya has not significantly improved over the past ten years, according to data on malnutrition. Nearly three-quarters of the 1.8 million children under five across the counties who are chronically undernourished are in the age range of 6-23 months. Even though Kenya has made efforts to combat malnutrition through a variety of means, the objective of reducing child malnutrition at the county level, including in Vihiga County, is still far from being achieved in light of rising food prices and a sizable portion of the population in the county living in poverty. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the effects of household food expenditure on nutritional status among children aged 6–23 months in Vihiga County, Kenya. Specific objectives included; to determine the patterns of household food expenditure as well as nutritional status amongst children aged 6-23 months in the rural and urban areas of Vihiga County, and to examine the effects of household food expenditure on nutritional status among children from the age of 6–23 months in rural and urban areas of Vihiga County. The study used probit estimation technique to examine the main objective of the research. This study made use of data from the 2015-16 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). From the findings, a percentage of 31.4 percent of children were stunted. A higher proportion (18.5%) of children 6-23 months in the rural areas were stunted compared to those in urban areas (12.9%). Most of the children 6-23 months in rural areas (13.7%) were moderately stunted compared to children in urban areas (10.9%). The proportion of the children 6-23 months who were severely stunted in rural and urban areas were 4.8% and 2.0%, correspondingly. From estimation, the study revealed that household food expenditure significantly had a negative effect to probability of a child aged 6-23 months being stunted. Mother’s age, vaccination status, household expenditure, education levels (primary, secondary and higher), socioeconomic status (poorer, middle, richer, richest), employment status had a negative effect, hence welfare enhancing. On the other hand, distance to the nearest health facility and household size were found to be significant with a positive effect, leading to increased undernourishment among children aged 6-23 months in Vihiga County. Based on the study findings, the study generally recommends for an integrated approach for policy by the government to provide government price subsidy on food to reduce the food budget share. The findings suggest that a shift in food prices has a higher effect on the poor's actual purchasing power. This could potentially increase household welfare in terms of healthcare and education, in addition to providing food for homes, particularly the poor. Further the policy shift is required to increases child involvement in growth monitoring clinics, women's education up to a minimum of secondary level, and increased immunization among children aged 6-23 months.