Ombogo, Lorraine2026-03-302026-03-302025-11https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32878A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Science in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2025 Supervisor; 1.Judith Kimiywe 2.Peter ChegeAging is associated with physiological decline and vulnerability to nutrition-related illnesses. The global increase in the older population and the high prevalence of malnutrition, including institutional settings, underscore the need to understand factors influencing nutrition outcomes among older persons. This study therefore assessed dietary intake, morbidity, and nutrition status among institutionalized older persons in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical design was used. Two homes were purposively selected, and a proportional sample of 141 older persons aged 60 years and above was drawn. Data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), 24-hour dietary recall, and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while Chi-square and regression analyses examined associations among dietary intake, morbidity, and nutrition status. Most respondents (49%) were aged 60–70 years, with 73.9% residing in the privately owned home for older persons. The mean daily energy intake was 2663.5 Kcal, (SD 1490.53) and nearly half (46.4%) had high dietary diversity. 53.6% of the participants reported suffering from various chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, while 26.1% took three or more prescription drugs daily. Using BMI classification, the MNA tool showed that 97.8% had ≥23 kg/m², with 66.7% overweight and 26.1% obese using the WHO BMI categorization. Using the MNA tool scores, 81.2% were considered malnourished, and 18.8% were at risk. Chi-square tests showed weak associations between age, institution, and nutrition status but significant associations between gender, dietary intake, morbidity, and nutrition status (p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that dietary diversity, presence of illness, and sex were strong predictors of nutrition status, with males being 2.9 times more likely to be malnourished than females. The study concludes that nutrition status among institutionalized older persons is influenced by dietary intake, morbidity, and gender which further contributes to malnutrition risk. It recommends that homes for older persons integrate diversified dietary intake with physical activity considering the number of respondents reported with high BMI. Additionally, based on the outcome of the regression analysis which revealed a significant association between sex and nutritional status where males were more likely to be malnourished than females, the study recommends qualitative research to explore underlying factors explaining this differenceenThesis