Child nutrition in the pre-harvest season in Kenya

This study examines the food consumption and nutritional status of pre-school children during the period March-April, at the end of the dry season in the Kano Plain of Nyanza Province. The diet of pre-school children in this region of Kenya consists foremost of maize and milk. Food consumption was generally low with considerable deficits in energy intake and other nutrients among all age groups, although protein intake was generally at recommended levels. The heights of the children did not differ from the available national and regional figures, but the weights of the children were far below earlier figures which must be related to the prevailing lean seasons. The youngest group in the sample, aged 6-12 months, showed the largest deficit in weight status. This group appears to suffer most from the seasonal imbalance. Overall the findings indicate that the seasonal deficits in this part of Kenya are more severe than was assumed until now.