Identifying and understanding barriers to optimal complementary feeding in Kenya.
Penjani Kamudoni1, Laura Kiige1, Flaminia Ortenzi2
1UNICEF Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya.
Maternal & Child Nutrition
|January 5, 2024
Summary
Optimal complementary feeding in Kenya is crucial for child development, but a declining minimum acceptable diet highlights significant challenges. Addressing these requires understanding and tackling socio-cultural and affordability barriers to nutritious foods.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Child Development
- Food Security
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding rates in Kenya have risen significantly (32% in 2008 to 60% in 2022).
- However, the proportion of children (6-23 months) receiving a minimum acceptable diet has declined (39% in 2008 to 31% in 2023).
- This indicates a critical gap in achieving optimal complementary feeding despite increased breastfeeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drivers of complementary feeding practices in Kenya, focusing on proximal determinants.
- To analyze dietary patterns, affordability of animal-source foods, and socio-cultural barriers.
- To inform the development of user-friendly, low-cost complementary feeding recipes and strategies.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of household surveys and food composition data.
- Ethnographic data analysis to identify socio-cultural barriers.
- Exploration of affordability improvements for animal-source foods.
Main Results:
- Multidimensional barriers hinder the use and availability of animal-source foods.
- Dietary patterns vary across Kenyan regions, with affordability being a key concern.
- Socio-cultural factors significantly impact complementary feeding practices.
Conclusions:
- A multi-sectoral approach is essential for policy and program development.
- Addressing barriers to animal-source food access and affordability is critical.
- Developing context-specific, affordable complementary feeding solutions is necessary for improving child nutrition.
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