Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://koha2.tukenya.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1460

Browse

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Snacking and its effect on nutritional status of adolescents in two national high schools in Nairobi Kenya
(2015-09-15) Nguu-Gutu, Catherine Muthoni; Imungi, Jasper K.; Ngatia, Edith M.
Snacking is defined as any intake of food or energy-containing beverage outside of breakfast, lunch and dinner (Bellisle, 2007). Previous studies have shown that snacking among adolescents is most common in the afternoon (Cross et al., 1994; Howarth et al., 2007). This study focused on snacking and its effect on dietary intake of macronutrients from normal school balanced meals and nutritional status of adolescents in two public national high schools namely Nairobi School for boys and Kenya High School (KHS) for girls, in Kenya. These schools were purposefully and randomly selected. A cross-sectional study on nutritional status and level of snacking was carried out involving 172 and 180 adolescent girls and boys respectively aged 13 to 18 years. A total of 352 adolescent high school girls and boys were assessed. A semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data on socio-economic status (SES) of the respondents’ families while qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observations. Anthropometric measurements on height and weight for nutritional status were used. Food consumption frequency was used to assess food intake from school meals and snacks. Energy and protein intake data were collected using a 24-hour recall based on a sub-sample of 31 students (14 boys and 17 girls). Eleven percent (11.0%) boys and 10.2% girls was stunted. Almost an equivalent number of both boys and girls (45.2% and 44.1% respectively) were found to be normal and nourished. Although, the girls are more likely to be stunted than boys stunting was not significantly different between the two groups and underweight was significantly higher in boys than in girls. Significantly more girls were overweight and obese than boys. Among the students who reported to be snacking, 10.4% were underweight and 76.9% had normal BMI-for-age as compared to those who did not snack where 20.0 % were underweight and 63.3% with normal BMI-for-age. It was observed that amongst those who snacked, an equal number of boys and girls at 5.2% were underweight while 6.9% more girls than boys (5.9%) were overweight. Most of the students who snacked had a normal (89.3%) height-for-age. Amongst those who snacked and based on gender, more boys (5.9%) than girls (4.8%) were found to be stunted. Among the gender the difference between those who snacked and those who didn’t was insignificant There were almost an equivalent percentage of those who snacked at 10.7% and those who didn’t at12.0% and were stunted. There was no significant difference between the BMI-for-age among those who were snacking and those who were not (χ2=5.84, p value=0.120). Whether one snacks or not there is no significant relationship between snacking, BMI- for-Age, and hence nutritional status of both adolescent boys and girls in national boarding high schools. This study shows that snacking has no effect on adolescents’ nutritional status.
Obesity and Factors that Contribute to Obesity among Pre- Adolescents Attending Day Private Primary Schools in Nairobi, Kenya
(2015-09-15) Malla, Janet Kajuju; Waudo, Prof. Judith; Kithinji, Dr. Ciriaka T.
Obesity is a diet-related condition and it refers to an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Various studies carried out in the United States reveal that obesity stems right from childhood. Childhood obesity is the most prevalent and common nutritional condition among the urban population and it is becoming an area of public concern. Cited literature suggests that feeding habits, especially during infancy and childhood predisposes the child to obesity in adulthood. This was a descriptive study aimed at investigating obesity and factors that contribute to obesity among Pre-adolescents. The respondents were randomly selected from two day private primary schools in Nairobi. Systematic random sampling was used to select pupils from each school making a sample of 120 pupils. School head-teachers were also included in the sample. Data were collected by use of questionnaires, an interview schedule and an observation checklist. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Qualitative data were analyzed by coding raw data into common themes to form patterns. Quantitative data were analyzed by computer through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Linear regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. Results were reported using frequencies and percentages. The study showed that there was a significant relationship between eating habits of the pre-adolescents and obesity. Eating food three times a day and eating any time were positively correlated with obesity. In the schools studied, 40% of the respondents ate food three times in a day while (50%) consumed food at any time of the day. The reasons given for these trends of food consumption were: availability of money, peer pressure, boredom and influence by media. Skipping meals had a very significant relationship with obesity. The t-statistic of –2.88 was significant at 5% significant level. This implied that an obese person could reduce their BMI by 2.0 points by skipping meals. On the other hand, eating between meals was positively correlated with obesity and the result was significant at 10% significant level. Data collected indicated that 55.8% of the respondents ate between meals. A third of the respondents were found to have a BMI of over 26, which indicates evidence of overweight.
Dietary Patterns and Obesity among Pre- Adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya
(Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 2017-04) Malla, Janet Kajuju; Waudo, Judith; Kithinji, Ciriaka T.
Abstract: Food continues to be a major factor in the development of the whole person throughout the growing years. Food becomes a means of communication; it is intimately associated with the emotions; and its acceptance or rejection is highly personal. The pattern for obesity is often set in infancy where sometimes overeating becomes a habit. Continued nibbling of food between meals and night eating syndrome where patients suffer from a voracious appetite after the usual evening meal is also associated with obesity. This was a descriptive study aimed at investigating the relationship between dietary patterns and obesity among Pre-adolescents. Systematic random sampling was used to select pupils from two day private primary schools in Nairobi making a sample of 120 pupils. Quantitative data were analyzed by computer through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Linear regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The study showed a significant relationship between dietary patterns of the pre-adolescents and obesity. Regression Analysis results showed that eating food three times a day and eating any time were positively correlated with obesity. Skipping meals was significant at (p<0.05) significant level.
Nutritional Value and Sensory Acceptability of M. oleifera Fortified Finger Millet Porridge for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2021-10-10) Malla, Janet Kajuju; Ochola, Sophie; Ogada, Irene; Munyaka, Ann
Abstract Nutritional deficiencies and other nutritional comorbidities commonly affect children with cerebral palsy. Interventions through fortification to enhance nutrient densities of foods for these groups may improve their intakes and consequently their nutritional and health status. This study was undertaken to determine the nutritional value and sensory acceptability of a finger millet porridge fortified with Moringa oleifera leaf powder. Standard methods approved by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were adopted for determination of nutrient and anti-nutrient content of samples. Sensory evaluation was conducted according to the method of Larmond (1977). Statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20. One-way analysis of variance with a post-hoc test of Least Significant Difference to separate the means was used to compare the nutrient and anti-nutrient content of samples. Independent t-test was used to test difference in mean sensory scores between fortified and control porridge. The results showed that Moleifera leaf powder had significantly higher contents of protein and β-carotene, which were the target nutrients for fortification of the fermented finger millet flour. Fermentation reduced the levels of anti-nutrients in finger millet flour. Fortification of the fermented finger millet flour with M. oleifera leaf powder at the ratio of 9:1 significantly improved the protein and β-carotene content of the fortified flour and did not significantly affect the sensory acceptability of the fortified porridge. This study confirmed the potential for Moleifera as suitable fortificant in finger millet porridge formulations to improve both protein and β-carotene intake in target populations
A Review of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children with Cerebral Palsy
(Machakos University, 2022-04) Malla, Janet Kajuju
Abstract Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurologic disorders typically caused by a non-progressive lesion or abnormality of the developing brain that appears in infancy or early childhood and permanently affects body movement, muscle coordination, and balance. It is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood and is a significant health problem with major effects over the lifespan. The global prevalence of CP ranges between 2-10 per 1000 children in community-based samples with prevalence varying widely from country to country. Children are vulnerable to protein energy malnutrition (PEM) as well as micronutrient deficiencies because of their continuing growth that hikes their bodies’ demand for nutrients. This risk of malnutrition is increased in neurologically impaired (NI) children due to a number of nutritional and non-nutritional factors. Among the nutritional factors is insufficient dietary intake due to feeding difficulties resulting from impaired chewing and swallowing. Cerebral palsy may be associated with a host of comorbidities such as undernutrition (46% to 90% of the patients), Studies have reported increased prevalence of morbidity and mortality secondary to compromised nutritional status among children with CP compared to their normal counterparts in the same age group. This review is aimed at assessing the effect of dietary intake on nutrition status of children with cerebral palsy. A review of various publications was conducted using the key words, Cerebral Palsy, disability, and feeding difficulties. This review shows that feeding difficulties due to motor dysfunction is common in children with CP and may reduce their dietary intake resulting to poor health and nutritional status. There is need to develop effective interventions aimed at improving the dietary intake of children with CP. Such interventions could help mitigate poor nutritional status as well as improve their quality of life.
Effect of Moringa Oleifera fortified porridge consumption on protein and vitamin A status of children with cerebral palsy in Nairobi, Kenya: A randomized controlled trial
(PLOS Global Public Health, 2022-11-04) Malla, Janet Kajuju; Ochola, Sophie; Ogada, Irene; Munyaka, Ann
Abstract Background Malnutrition due to inadequate dietary intake is commonly reported in children with Cerebral palsy (CP). Poor dietary intakes are majorly caused by feeding dysfunctions secondary to oro-motor impairment characteristic of the condition. Strategies that improve nutrient densities in foods can help enhance nutrient intakes by these children. Objective This study investigated the effect of consumption of fermented finger millet porridge fortified with Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) on the protein and vitamin A status of children with CP. Design A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 113 children aged 5–11 years with CP. The study had two arms (intervention [N = 57] and control [N = 56]). The intervention group received a daily serving of fortified finger millet porridge for 3 months while the control group received non-fortified finger millet porridge servings. All children received the same amounts of porridge servings. The levels of serum albumin and retinol between the groups were compared at both baseline and end line. The BMI-for-age Z-scores (BMIAZ) and morbidity prevalence of the children were also assessed. Results At baseline, the two study groups were similar in all demographic and socio-economic characteristics, nutrient intakes, serum levels of albumin and retinol, weight status and morbidity. At end line, the children from the intervention group had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A at 717.12±432.7 μg/d (p = 0.038) and protein at 44.367±17.2 g/d (p = 0.031) respectively. The serum nutrients levels increased significantly from baseline by 0.456±0.12 g/dL (p<0.001) for albumin and by 0.243±0.10 μmol/L (p<0.001) for retinol among children in the intervention group. Among the children in the control group, the changes in the levels of both serum albumin 0.012±0.07 g/dL (p = 0.868) and serum retinol [0.0021±0.02 μmol/L (p= 0.890)] were not significant. At endline, the BMI-for-age Z-scores results showed that 10.52% and 34.0% of children from intervention and control group respectively were undernourished [χ2 = 30.985; p = 0.037]. Among the children in the intervention, group there was a significant change in the weight status between baseline and endline (p = 0.036). The weight status among children in the control group was not significantly different between baseline and endline (p = 0.109). Significant difference in morbidity prevalence between the two groups was also observed at endline (p = 0.003) with the prevalence being 24.6% and 51.8% among children in the intervention and control group respectively. Conclusion Consumption of M. oleifera fortified porridge significantly improved the children’s serum albumin and retinol levels, as well as BMIAZ.

Browse

Browsing Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics by Issue Date