Effect of soybean (Glycine max) supplementation on orphaned and vulnerable school children aged 6-9 years in Suba District, Kenya
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Date
2011-11-18
Authors
Kamau, Joyce Wanjiku
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Abstract
HIV and AIDS, hunger and malnutrition are the most devastating problems facing majority of the world's poor including school children amid rising food insecurity in many Kenyan households. School feeding may be one of the best interventions to boost nutritional status of school children that are affected by HIV and AIDS. This study aimed to find out the effect of soybean supplementation on the health and nutrition of school children aged 6-9 years in selected schools in Suba District. A baseline survey was conducted to establish socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional status, food consumption patterns and morbidity patterns of 110 children who formed the study sample using a structured interview schedule. Two schools were involved in the feeding trial that took three months. The experimental group of 54 children received corn soybean blend porridge for three months in school as a mid morning snack. The control group of 54 children did not receive the corn soybean porridge. Anthropometric tools were used to assess nutritional status of the school children at baseline and at monthly intervals and after the feeding trial. Height, weight, and age values were used to calculate standardized Z-scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ). Biochemical tests were also performed to determine serum retinol and zinc levels in the school children at baseline and after the feeding trials. A medical doctor undertook clinical assessment of all the children. Data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 11.5 and Nutri-survey (2005) for the dietary intake. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Demographic data showed poor socioeconomic status of the respondents with food insecurity. Malnutrition levels among experimental group were 10.2%, 28.9% and 5.6% for underweight, stunting and wasting respectively which dropped to 6.2%, 18.7% and 3.4% after the trial. There was significant improvement in underweight (p<0.0121) and wasting (p<0.0193) but not stunting (p<0.304).The control group registered 11.4%, 28.5% and 8.7% underweight, stunting and wasting respectively. Underweight and wasting rose to 14.3% (p<0.215) and 9.5% (p<0.308) but stunting dropped to 21.5% (p<0.314). Severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD) dropped from 6.1% to 2.3% and moderate VAD from 69.4% to 37.2% (p<0.008) in the experimental school. Zinc deficiency also dropped significantly (p<0.001) from 95.7% to 79.4%. There was significant improvement in VAD in the control school (p<0.012) from 61.5% to 30.4% and 5.8% to 0 for moderate and severe deficiency. Zinc status unproved (not significant p>0.4291) from 94.3% to 79.4%. The staple foods were maize, sorghum, millet, and fish with no variety and adherence to balanced diets. Commonly reported diseases were malaria (21 %), upper respiratory infections (14%) and diseases (28%). School absenteeism dropped from 16% to 4% in experimental school. There is food insecurity in the District leading to macro and micronutrient malnutntion among school children. Soybean should be promoted in HIV and AIDS affected areas to alleviate malnutrition and improve food security.
Description
The RJ 206.K33
Keywords
Children--Nutrition//School children--Food