Dietary patterns and nutritional status of pre-school children in Nairobi.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the dietary patterns and nutritional status of pre-school children in Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Pre-schools in Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODS
Three hundred and four pre-school children (149 males and 155 females) aged three to five years were assessed.


RESULTS
About 96% of the children had been breastfed 46.7% of them for 12-24 months (46.7%), and the mean breastfeeding duration was 20.17 months. The most commonly consumed foods on a daily basis were fruits, vegetables bread, ugali, porridge and milk. The level of malnutrition was low with underweight at 16% stunting 4.3% and wasting 1.0%. The factors that positively correlated with child nutritional status were the age of the mother and father.


CONCLUSIONS
The children were consuming a variety of foods both at home and in school, and this together with the high literacy levels the parents/guardians could have contributed towards the good nutritional status.
Ngatia
E M
EM
Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
Ng'ang'a
P M
PM
Muita
J W G
JW
Imungi
J K
JK
D000886:Anthropometry; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires