Background: Dietary diversity has continued to gain widespread attention among the population since it has evidently been associated with nutrient adequacy. A diverse diet has been shown to reflect nutrient adequacy since no one food can meet the nutritional requirement of a person. Pregnant women have been considered vulnerable to malnutrition due to their increased nutrient requirement and therefore a variety of foods in their diet is considered imperative in ensuring adequate nutrient intake. To promote dietary diversity, it is important to understand the factors associated with it. This paper therefore assessed the determinants of dietary diversity among pregnant women in Laikipia County, Kenya. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study consisting of 254 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital in Laikipia County, Kenya. Results: The mean Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was 6.84 ± 1.46 Standard Deviation (SD), with cereals being the most (99%) commonly consumed food group. Adjusted Logistic Regression (AOR) analyses revealed education level (AOR = 2.78; (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.06, 5.32; p < 0.001), employment status (AOR = 2.29; CI 1.18, 4.14; p = 0. 003), monthly income (AOR = 2.08; CI 1.32, 3.03; p < 0.001), household assets (AOR = 1.93; CI 0.73, 6.90; p = 0.030), land ownership (AOR = 0.64; CI 0.44, 2.25; p = 0.040), and morbidity (AOR = 0.78; CI 0.36, 2.34; p = 0.010) among the pregnant women as the variables that influenced their dietary diversity. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors (education level, employment status, monthly income, household assets and land ownership) have been shown to influence dietary diversity in this study. New policies and intervention programmes targeting these determinants of dietary diversity should therefore be enacted, while the existing ones should be supported and monitored particularly among the vulnerable populations. Such policies and programmes among pregnant women will ensure improved dietary diversity and adequate nutrient intake. Similarly, since morbidity incidence among pregnant women have been shown to significantly influence dietary diversity, public health awareness campaign on the importance of early detection and timely treatment of diseases among pregnant women should be launched by the relevant stakeholders.

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed (EBF) for the first six months of life. Breast milk is considered an ideal food for the healthy growth and development of the infant. Exclusive breastfeeding is also important in ensuring the health of the mother. Lack of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a child’s life is considered a risk for infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. In Kenya, sub-optimal breastfeeding practices are still prevalent which has contributed to high rates of under nutrition. Different studies done in Kenya have reported varying factors as potential determinants of exclusive breastfeeding. These factors have been reported under different contexts and settings. This paper explores these factors, which can help in policy making and informing other relevant interventions promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Literature was searched through Freefullpdf, Google scholar and PubMed (Medline) using the following key terms; exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya, determinants of exclusive breastfeeding and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. Only peer reviewed articles, and research theses were included. Additionally, only literature reporting on exclusive breastfeeding practices and its associated factors was included. A total of 20 papers were included in the review. The following factors were found to be associated with exclusive breastfeeding; socioeconomic, demographic, maternal, socio-cultural, social and psychosocial support factors. Strategies targeting socioeconomic, demographic, maternal, socio-cultural, social and psychosocial support factors for improving exclusive breastfeeding should be up scaled. Behavior change communication on appropriate exclusive breastfeeding practices is also highly recommended.

Background: Diabetes type 2 has become a serious global health threat due to its increasing prevalence particularly among African countries. Numerous scientific evidence points out on the importance of an individual’s dietary practices and nutritional status in its prevention and management. The objective of the study was to identify the predictors of dietary practices and nutritional status among diabetes type 2 patients.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and a total of 153 study subjects were recruited. A pretested researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was analyzed using both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The study established significant associations (p<0.05, at 95% C.I) between participants’ education level (AOR=4.72), occupation (AOR=2.41), monthly income (AOR=6.02) and level of dietary knowledge (AOR=2.33) and their dietary practices. Further, there was a significant association between nutritional status and education level (AOR=1.26), monthly income (AOR=1.72), level of dietary knowledge (AOR=1.11) and dietary diversity (AOR=1.62). Majority of the participants were obese (51%).Conclusions: Majority of the participants were obese. Dietary knowledge, education level, occupation, monthly income and dietary practices were the factors associated with the patients’ dietary practices and nutritional status. Up-scaling of interventions targeting these variables is thus crucial. Further, reinforcing the need for healthy dietary practices and optimal nutritional status is critical in the prevention and management of diabetes.

Background: Street foods (SF) are ready-to-eat foods and the safety and hygiene practices of street food vendors (SFVs) are important in the prevention of food-borne diseases (FBD). This study assessed the food handling practices and vending environments of SFVs operating outside a public university (Chuka University) in Ndagani, Kenya. Methods: The study used an observational cross-sectional design where SFVs were observed during data collection. Census sampling was used to recruit 100 SFVs in Ndagani, Kenya. The collected data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Chi square and regression analysis were used to assess the association and relationship between the SFVs’ demographic characteristic (sex) and their food handling practices and vending environment. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: Of the 100 SFVS who participated in the study 87% (n=87) were female. Only 10% (n=10) of the SFVs were vending in a sanitary environment while 88% (n=88) of the SFVs had sub-optimal food handling practices. There was an association between the SFVs sex and vending environment (p=0.003) and their food handling practices (p=0.008). Compared to male SVFs, female SFVs were 10.1 times more likely to vend in an unsanitary environment (OR: 10.1; C.I, 2.41-42.60, p=0.002) and 7.1 times more likely to have sub-optimal food handling practices (OR: 7.1; C.I, 1.84-27.79, p=0.005). Conclusions: The majority of SFVs are working in unsanitary environments and not handling SFs safely and hygienically. SFVs need training on food safety to prevent an outbreak of FBDs within university community.

No abstract