Browsing by Author "Kiio, Juliana"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Does Education Level, Household Income, Budget for Food and Birth Interval Predict the Iron Status of Women of Childbearing age in Nandi County, Kenya?
    (Ecronicon Open Access, 2020-09) Nyakundi, Patrick Nyamemba; Kiio, Juliana; Munyaka, Ann
    Women of Childbearing Age (WCA) encounter disproportionately elevated prevalence of iron deficiency caused by increased demand for iron related to pregnancy and menstruation. The study investigated the association between socio-economic and demographic characteristics and normal serum ferritin levels among WCA in Nandi County, Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical design was adopted to conduct the study in Kapsabet Ward. The Ward was divided into 8 clusters and systematic sampling was used to sample a total of 160 respondents proportionately from the clusters. A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and health-related information from the respondents. A venous blood sample (2 ml) was drawn from the participants. Serum ferritin (SF) and C-reactive proteins (CRP) were analysed using “Eligance Amplified Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay”. Data were entered into SPSS and continuous and categorical variables including demographic and socio-economic characteristics and iron status were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, means, and standard deviations. Binomial regression was conducted to understand the association between socio-economic and demographic factors and iron status. Confounding variables such as iron supplementation, recent major blood losses, and parasitic infections were controlled for during analysis. Most of the respondents were young (aged 15 - 24 years) (53.8%), single women (57.5%), and belonged to households earning < Ksh. 10,000 (38.1%) and budgeted 34.0% of their income for food. The prevalence of iron deficiency (SF < 15 μg/l and CRP < 5 mg/l or SF 15 - 29 μg/l and CRP > 5 mg/l) among WCA was 36.9%. Respondents who belonged to households that made an income of Ksh.10000 - 20000 were 3 times more likely (AOR = 3.163, p = 0.010, CI = 1.320 - 7.577) to have normal stores of iron than those who made less than Ksh. 10000. Respondents with wider birth interval (AOR = 1.705, p = 0.020, CI = 1.089 - 2.670) and high budget for food (AOR = 1.232, p = 0.001, CI = 1.130 - 1.344) were nearly 2-fold and 23.2% respectively, more likely to have normal iron status. Normal SF of WCA were positively predicted by a wider birth interval, higher income and budget for food at the household level.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Gap Analysis: Nutrition Knowledge Assessment and Practical Application Evaluations among College Nutrition Students at a Middle-Level Institution, Kenya
    (International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2025-09) Mwaniki, Bridget Nduta; Ochola, Sophie; Kiio, Juliana
    Introduction: Globally, there has been an upsurge of obesity and overweight among college students. In 2022, two and a half billion adults aged 18 years and above (43%) were overweight, among which, 890 million people were obese (16%). Furthermore, a prevalence of 16.5% of overweight was reported among Kenyatta University students in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024. There is scarcity of information on eating habits, physical activity level and the nutrition status of college students in Kenya, particularly those pursuing nutrition programmes. Thus, this study’s purpose was to establish the physical activity and nutrition knowledge levels, eating habits and nutrition status among nutrition and dietetics students in middle-level institutions in Kenya. Materials and Methods: This research employed a mixed methods cross-sectional analytical study design that collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Two hundred and ninetythree (293) third- and second-year nutrition students at Karen, Molo, and Nyandarua Campuses were randomly sampled. Content-validated, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on social and physical environmental factors, individual factors, and eating habits. Observation checklist and Focus Group Discussion guides were also used to collect qualitative data. Eating habits was determined using dietary diversity score and meal frequency. Weight, height, waist and hip circumference measurements were collected and the weight status established using Body Mass Index (WHO 2000 cut-off points) and Waist Hip Ratio. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) (WHO 2022) was used to collect physical activity data. Qualitative data was transcribed and coded for common themes, from which conclusions were drawn. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis. The relationships between study variables were established using a number of tests, including Chi- square test, Man Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, Bivariate Spearman’s rank order correlation, and Multivariate logistic regression analysis. A p< 0.05 was used as the statistical significance level. Results: Majority of the participants were females (76%). The mean age of the participants was 22.7(±2) years. Majority of the respondents (57.7%) had moderate nutrition knowledge (41–69%). The college students’ meals majorly constituted of ugali, kales, rice beans/green grams, chapati beans/ green grams, and rice, carrot, peas, ugali and cabbage. Majority of the respondents (87%) had diverse diets, where they consumed a daily minimum recommended meal frequency of five meals. However, Sub-optimal eating habits were reported in some respondents, such as consumption of unhealthy snacks, skipping meals, and poor dietary diversity. 20.5% of the respondents were overweight and 7.5% obese. 26.3% and 46.1% of the respondents engaged in vigorous and moderate physical activity respectively. Higher nutrition knowledge was associated with the practice of recommended eating habits (AOR = 0.265, p = 0.006). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that there was no association between nutrition knowledge and nutrition status of the study participants. There were also inadequate physical activity levels among the nutrition students. Nonetheless, active physical activity promotes an acceptable nutrition status. Hence, there is a need to sensitize nutrition students to ensure that their knowledge is translated to healthy eating habits. This will help in preventing overweight and obesity, and therefore, chronic conditions. The management should also ensure that the college environment supports physical activity and healthy eating.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating the Interplay Between Physical- and Social-Environmental Factors, Eating Habits and Nutrition Status among Nutrition Students at a Kenyan Middle-Level Institution - A Cross-Sectional Study
    (International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2025-09) Mwaniki, Bridget Nduta; Ochola, Sophie; Kiio, Juliana
    Introduction: Globally, there has been a recent rise in obesity and overweight among college students. In 2022, 43% of adults aged 18 years and above were reported to be overweight. Many physical- environmental and social- environmental factors contribute to nutritional vulnerability among college students, including peer and family influence, media, access and availability of food. There is inadequate research on these physical- and socialenvironmental factors among college nutrition students in Kenya. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing the environmental factors that influence the eating habits and nutrition status of students pursuing the nutrition and dietetics in middle-level institutions in Kenya. Materials and Methods: The research was guided by a mixed methods cross-sectional analytical study design, with an interest in both quantitative and qualitative data. 293 students in third- and second-year, and pursuing nutrition and dietetics at Karen, Molo, and Nyandarua Campuses of Kenya Medical Training College were sampled randomly. The study used questionnaires that were content-validated, semi-structured, and self-administered to collect data on social and physical environmental factors and eating habits. Qualitative data was collected using an observation checklist and Focus Group Discussion guides. Eating habits was determined using dietary diversity score and meal frequency. Waist and hip circumference measurements were collected and the Waist Hip Ratio was established. Qualitative data was transcribed and coded for common themes, from which conclusions were drawn. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics and Chisquare test, Man Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, Bivariate Spearman’s rank order correlation, and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were also used in establishing the relationships between study variables. A p< 0.05 was used as the statistical significance level. Results: females (76%) constituted the larger portion of the participants, with a mean age 22.7(±2) years. The meals of the students comprised mainly of ugali, kales, rice beans/green grams, chapati beans/ green grams, and rice, carrot, peas, ugali and cabbage. majority of the respondents (87%) consumed diverse diets, with a daily minimum recommended meal frequency of five meals. Sub-optimal eating habits were reported including skipping meals. Over half (58%) of the respondents reported negative and positive peer influence in the choice of the foods consumed. A chi-square test established a positive association between eating habits and the nutrition status of the students (p=0.009). There was a significant association between the occupation of the parents and the respondents’ WHR (p=0.004). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the amount of pocket money the students received and nutrition status (AOR = 1.917, p = 0.044). Students who received higher amounts of pocket money were more likely to be obese (high WHR) (AOR = 1.917, p = 0.044). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that peer and family influence, media, access and availability of food were key factors that influenced the eating habit, and consequently, the nutrition status of the study participants. There is, therefore, need for interventions targeting the physical and social environments for healthier eating habits among college students in middle-level institutions.