title: Feasibility and effectiveness of supplementation with locally available foods in prevention of child malnutrition in Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the operational feasibility and effectiveness of using locally available foods to prevent malnutrition and improve child growth in Kenyan children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental design with an intervention group of children in all villages in one region and a non-intervention group of children in all villages in an adjacent region. The intervention was the distribution of a monthly food ration for the index child, a separate family ration, and group education on appropriate complementary feeding and hygiene.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural villages in the arid lands of eastern Kenya with a high prevalence of child malnutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children in the target villages aged 6-20 months with weight-for-length Z-score (WHZ) greater than -2 at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children in the intervention and non-intervention groups had similar baseline anthropometric measures. The caregivers in the intervention group confirmed that the intended amounts of food supplements were received and child nutrient intake improved. During the 7-month intervention period there were significant group differences in pre-post Z-score changes between the intervention and non-intervention groups for weight-for-age (0·82, P < 0·001) and weight-for-height (1·19, P < 0·001), but not for height-for-age (-0·20, P = 0·09), after adjusting for multiple covariates. Compared with the non-intervention group, the intervention group had a lower prevalence of wasting (0% v. 8·9%, P = 0·0002) and underweight (6·3% v. 23·0%, P < 0·0001). Infectious morbidity was similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the distribution of locally available foods is operationally feasible and improves child weight gain and decreases acute malnutrition in Kenyan children.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2400 Tucker Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Tomedi
authors: Felisha
authors: F
authors: Rohan-Minjares
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: McCalmont
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Ashton
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: Opiyo
authors: Mutuku
authors: M
authors: Mwanthi
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012423:Rural Health; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain