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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: Between April 1992 and June 1993, in Njoro division within Nakurua district of the Rift Valley Province in Kenya, nutritionists conducted a study of 41 children aged 18-36 months from low income smallholder households with limited off-farm incomes in the four cooperative farms of Mutukanio, Kamwago, Sosio, and Kamwaura to examine the effect of seasonal changes on household food availability and on nutritional status of preschool children. During the entire study, energy and nutrient intake, on average, was fairly good. Seasonal changes appeared to have a significant effect only on calcium, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin intakes. Specifically, the intakes for all the aforementioned nutrients were higher in the post-harvest season than in the lean season. In the lean season, green vegetables and beans were in short supply. Energy intakes were on average 82-89% of the recommended daily intakes during the entire study period. Significant seasonal differences in mean weight changes (rate of 182 g/month) did not occur. The children grew in length at a faster rate during the lean season than the post-harvest season (0.9 vs. 0.8 cm/month). Stunting was more common during the lean season than the post-harvest season (51% vs. 28%). These findings revealed that seasonal changes in the household food supply influences the growth of preschool children in low income households on cooperative farms in Kenya.
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