Evaluating nutrition interventions to households living with orphans aged 6-59 monthsin kakamega County, Kenya

Child malnutrition is globally the highest risk factor for illness and death. It contributes to more than half of deaths in children worldwide. Children who lose their parents may face many hardships including food insecurity and poor child care resulting into malnutrition. However, in Kenya and the entire sub-Saharan Africa the problem of orphan-hood is expected to increase in the coming years due to more deaths from HIV/AIDS and other disasters. The objective of the study was to evaluate the intervention strategies used to enhance nutritional status of orphans in Kakamega County. It was a cross sectional study where both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. A structured questionnaire was administered to 306 care takers of orphans and non-orphans. The nutritional status of the children was determined by use of anthropometric measurements; weight for age (underweight), height for age (stunting) and weight for height (wasting), Focus Group Discussions and key informant interviews were also conducted. Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) were used to analyze the data. Pearson chi-square was used to test the significance of the relations while ranking was used to compare proportions of occurrence. The study revealed that very few organizations provided support to the households and the support provided was not adequate. Orphans living in households which received support were found to have equal chances of becoming malnourished with the other orphans who never received any support. It is recommended that Potential organizations and individuals and especially the business community be sensitized on the need to provide nutrition support to the community. The pot- logging technique could be used to mobilize nutrition support from different stakeholders and individuals as it will allow individuals to provide support through a central point in a coordinated manner. It will motivate many individuals and organizations within and outside the community to donate food, clothing and any other items for upkeep of the orphans. The County Government of Kakamega should also come up with policies to promote nutrition support to households living with orphans in the county.